James C Sourris AM is a long-time supporter and friend to many in the Queensland cultural community. His enthusiasm for contemporary Australian art and artists is evidenced through his private collection and the James C Sourris AM Collection of Artist Interviews held by State Library of Queensland.
These interviews, embedded below, provide an insight into the motivations, inspirations and tribulations of some of Australia’s most acclaimed visual creatives and enable research, student learning and personal enjoyment. There are three versions of each interview available - short (under 10 minutes), medium (approximately 30 minutes) and long-form (1hr+).
James and his sister Marica Sourris have been benefactors of the Queensland Library Foundation since 1998 and are honoured with naming rights of the Marica Sourris and James C Sourris AM White Gloves Room on level 4 of State Library.
This audiovisual collection speaks to the heart of James’s lifetime of experience in cinematic entertainment and production. He was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) in 2011 for service to the arts and to the community through the development of the motion picture industry and through philanthropic contributions, particularly to the Queensland Art Gallery and the State Library of Queensland.
State Library acknowledges James and Marica for making this collection possible.
7 min. 4 sec
Laurie Nilsen digital story: The James C Sourris AM Collection 2020-21
Artist Laurie Nilsen (1953-2020) interviewed by Pat Hoffie. Part of the James C Sourris AM Collection of Artist Interviews 2010-2021.
Interviewed in December 2019
5 mins. 19 sec
Andrew Arnaoutopoulos digital story: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Artist Andrew Arnaoutopoulos interviewed by Michele Helmrich. Part of the James C Sourris AM Collection of Artist Interviews 2019-2020.
Interviewed 19 October 2019
5 mins. 19 sec
Dr Bonita Ely digital story: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Artist Dr Bonita Ely interviewed by Julie Ewington. Part of the James C Sourris AM Collection of Artist Interviews 2019-2020.
Interviewed 26 June 2019
6 min. 5 sec
Vivienne Binns OAM digital story: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Vivienne Binns OAM interviewed by Helen Hughes. Part of the James C Sourris AM Collection of Artist Interviews 2019-2020.
Interviewed 25 June 2019
7 mins. 7 secs
Joe Furlonger digital story: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Artist Joe Furlonger interviewed by Bruce Heiser. Part of the James C Sourris AM Collection of Artist Interviews 2019-2020.
Interviewed 5 June 2019
4 min. 58 sec.
Normana Wight interview: The James C. Sourris AM collection
Normana Wight talks to Noreen Grahame about her art, her artistic career, the influence computer technology has had on her art and her future aspirations.
Interviewed 21 August 2014
6 min. 07 sec.
Judy Watson interview: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Judy Watson talks to Louise Martin-Chew about her art practice, her family and the future of Aboriginal art in Australia.
Interviewed 31 May 2011
5 min. 42 sec.
Vernon Ah Kee interview: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Vernon Ah Kee talks to Daniel Browning about his art, his family, the artist group Proppa Now and being an Aboriginal artist.
Interviewed 6 December 2010
5 min. 03 sec.
Luke Roberts interview: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Luke Roberts talks to Doug Hall about growing up Catholic in Alpha (Qld), being a gay artist and his show AlphaStation/Alphaville at the Institute of Modern Art in Brisbane, Queensland.
Interviewed 26 February 2011
6 min. 15 sec.
Richard Bell interview: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Richard Bell talks to Rex Butler about the development of his artistic practice, about winning the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award and the artist group Proppa Now.
Interviewed 19 April 2011
6 min. 35 sec.
Madonna Staunton interview: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Madonna Staunton talks to Professor Robert Leslie Lingard about her art and life, the influences on her art including her childhood, fragile health, and poetry, the various artists and experiences that she has encountered and that which motivates and inspires her.
Interviewed 4 Apr 2012
8 min. 17 sec.
Gordon Shepherdson interview: The James C Sourris Collection
Gordon Charles Halloran Shepherdson talks to David Burnett about his art, and the influences on his practice including having worked in an abattoir, the sea, fishing and darkness.
Interviewed 31 Aug 2012
6 min. 13 sec.
Judith Wright interview: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Judith Wright talks to Julie Ewington about her childhood imaginary world, that which has influenced her art including the loss of her baby girl and the fragility of human life, as well as discussing various aspects of her artist works.
Interviewed 12 Jun 2013
6 min. 48 sec.
Fiona Foley interview: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Fiona Foley talks to Louise Martin-Chew about her life as an artist and the influences on her practice including her sense of justice, desire to tell the hidden histories, her family memories and her love for Aboriginal culture.
Interviewed 19 Jun 2013
6 min. 44 sec
Sandra Selig digital story: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Artist Sandra Selig interviewed by Hamish Sawyer. Part of the James C Sourris AM Artist Interview Series 2017-2018.
8 min. 33 sec
Gordon Hookey digital story: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Artist Gordon Hookey interviewed by Bruce McLean. Part of the James C Sourris AM Artist Interview Series 2017-2018.
5 min. 47 sec.
Sebastian Di Mauro interview: The James C. Sourris AM Collection
Sebastian Di Mauro talks to John Stafford about his art, his artistic career, and the influence of his Sicilian background.
Interviewed 15 October 2014
6 min. 14 sec.
Peter Kennedy interview: The James C. Sourris AM Collection
Peter Kennedy talks to Max Delany about his art, his artistic career, and being credited with presenting the first exhibition in Australia to use neon light.
Interviewed 16 March 2015
8 min. 09 sec.
Leonard Brown interview: The James C. Sourris AM Collection
Leonard Brown talks to Angela Goddard about his art, his first solo exhibition at age 19, and his involvement with the Anglican Franciscan Friars and Russian Orthodox Church.
Interviewed 1 December 2015
6 min. 56 sec.
William Robinson interview: The James C. Sourris AM Collection
William Robinson talks to Vanessa Van Ooyen about his art, his success at winning the Archibald Prize and his busy life as both a teacher and an artist.
Interviewed 6 February 2016
5 min. 50 sec.
Anne Wallace interview: The James C. Sourris AM Collection
Anne Wallace talks to Sean Sennett about her art, her studies at the Slade in London and her upbringing.
Interviewed 24 November 2015
8 min. 42 sec.
Ray Hughes interview: The James C. Sourris AM Collection
Ray Hughes talks to Glenn Barkley about his life and his career beginning with Gallery1Eleven in Red Hill, Brisbane.
Interviewed 31 August 2016
7 min. 05 sec.
Helga Groves interview: The James C. Sourris AM Collection
Helga Groves talks to Jane O'Neill about her life, art and influences on her practice such as landscape and geology which she is interested in at both a macro and micro level.
Interviewed 13 December 2016
8 min. 15 sec.
Doug Hall AM interview: The James C. Sourris AM Collection
Doug Hall AM talks to Rex Butler about his career as an art gallery director beginning at age 21 and the creation of the Asia Pacific Triennial.
Interviewed 15 December 2016
7 min. 44sec.
Gareth Sansom interview: The James C. Sourris AM Collection
Gareth Sansom talks to Steve Cox about his life, art practices and success at winning the Hugh Williamson Prize, McCaughey Memorial Prize and Dobell Prize for Drawing.
Interviewed 21 December 2016
6 min. 40 sec
Lawrence Daws interview: The James C. Sourris AM Collection
Lawrence Daws talks to Bettina MacAulay about his life, his paintings and computer generated prints, and how his interest in philosophy, literature and psychology has influenced his work.
Interviewed 26 February 2016
6 min. 16 sec
Dr Philip Bacon interview: The James C. Sourris AM Collection
Dr Philip Bacon AM talks to Louise Martin-Chew about his career as an art gallery director covering the establishment of his gallery in July 1974 in Fortitude Valley Brisbane, artists represented and exhibitions.
Interviewed 26 February 2018
6 min. 13 sec
Peter Bellas digital story: The James C Sourris AM Collection
Former gallery director Peter Bellas interviewed by Robert Lingard as part of the James C Sourris AM Artist Interview Series 2017-2018.
5 min. 44 sec.
Ian Smith interview: The James C. Sourris AM collection
Ian Smith talks to Louise Martin-Chew about his life and his art in the past, present and future.
Interviewed 8 May 2014
The James C Sourris AM Collection
The James C Sourris AM Collection consists of interviews with significant Australian artists and figures in the art world. It is a growing collection that provides insight and context to the practice of some of our most respected artists.
Each artist is profiled via three distinct recordings: a full-length interview between the interviewer and the artists, a 30 minute version, optimised for education purposes and a shorter version, generally 5 to 9 minutes in length that gives a quick taste of that person’s artistic practice.
All of the recordings are transcribed and available for viewing online – via State Library’s catalogue, OneSearch, YouTube or Vimeo. They can be used for research today but also by future generations to reveal insights about the artists and their practice, and to explore the artists' work in the context of their life story.
These engaging stories present a unique opportunity to learn a little more about a number of important artists.
The James C Sourris AM Collection - AM Interview Series is part of the Australian Library of Art at State Library of Queensland.
Portrait of an Artist
Portrait of an Artist is a event series that showcases the interviews from the James C Sourris AM collection. Through these live, in conversation interviews audiences can connect more deeply to the artist's personality, life story and work.
57 min. 53 sec
Portrait of an Artist: Vernon Ah Kee
Enjoy an intimate question and answer session with artist Vernon Ah Kee led by Griffith University Art Museum Director, Angela Goddard to hear his fascinating musings into how an artist thinks, feels and works.
Event held: 7 July 2021, Auditorium 1, level 2, State Library of Queensland.
Vernon Ah Kee digital story, educational interview and oral history.
54 min. 45 sec
Portrait of an Artist: Laurie Nilsen retrospective
In this Portrait of an Artist event we pay tribute to the late Laurie Nilsen. The panel discussion is between photographer, anthropologist and researcher Michael Aird, artist and Director of FireWorks Gallery Michael Eather and artist Pat Hoffie.
Event held: 7 July 2021, Auditorium 1, level 2, State Library of Queensland.
1 hour. 1 min. 57 sec
Portrait of an Artist: Gordon Shepherdson retrospective
In this Portrait of an Artist event we pay tribute to the late Gordon Shepherdson. This panel discussion is with arts writer Louise Martin-Chew, art dealer Bruce Heiser and Gordon’s son Nathan Shepherdson, speaking about Gordon’s enduring work and legacy.
Event held: 11 Oct 2019, Auditorium 1, level 2, State Library of Queensland.
Gordon Shepherdson digital story, educational interview and oral history
1 hour. 1 min. 10 sec
Portrait of an Artist: Gordon Hookey
Enjoy an intimate question and answer session with artist Gordon Hookey and artist/curator Shannon Brett to hear his fascinating musings into how an artist thinks, feels and works.
Event held: 26 July 2019, Auditorium 1, level 2, State Library of Queensland.
Gordon Hookey digital story, educational interview and oral history
1 hour. 34 sec
Portrait of an Artist: Sebastian Di Mauro
Enjoy an intimate question and answer session with artist Sebastian Di Mauro and Louise Martin-Chew to hear his fascinating musings into how an artist thinks, feels and works.
Event held: 5 April 2019, Auditorium 1, level 2, State Library of Queensland.
Sebastian Di Mauro digital story, educational interview and oral history
1 hour. 4 min. 8 sec
Portrait of an Artist: Lawrence Daws
Enjoy an intimate question and answer session with artist Lawrence Daws led by QAGOMA Director Chris Saines CNZM to hear his fascinating musings into how an artist thinks, feels and works.
Event held: 2 November 2018, Auditorium 1, level 2, State Library of Queensland.
Lawrence Daws digital story, educational interview and oral history
Education resources
The James C Sourris AM collection offers a unique insight into the life and work of contemporary Australian artists. Supplemental education resources encourage students to delve into the lives and works of contemporary Australian artists such as Vernon Ah Kee, Judith Wright and Fiona Foley. The James C Sourris AM collection education resources support the delivery of the Queensland Senior Visual Art syllabus and ACARA Visual Art outcomes.
Grade Levels: Primary years, Middle years, Senior years
Subject Areas: Visual Art
Additional resources
State Library education resources support your teaching and provide stimulating, authentic material to inspire students.