Andrew Sayers

Andrew George Sayers (29 June 1957 – 11 October 2015) was an Australian curator and painter. He was the first director of Australia's National Portrait Gallery from 1998 to 2010, and director of the National Museum of Australia from 2010 to 2013.

Early life and education Andrew George Sayers was born in London, England, on 29 June 1957. He emigrated to Australia at the age of seven, arriving in Sydney with his family in 1964. and attended Asquith Boys High School, in Asquith, an upper north shore suburb of Sydney, from 1970 to 1975.

He studied fine arts at the University of Sydney graduating with an honours degree in 1978

In 1998, he was appointed as the inaugural director of the new National Portrait Gallery (NPGA) - then occupying a few rooms in the old Parliament House, and with just six members of staff. which included both historical and contemporary works in a number of different media, illustrated his vision for the future of the NPG. However, he was also committed to developing of the gallery "as a centre for biography and history". During his tenure, he created policies, made press appearances, commissioned artworks, and wrote proposals to acquire individual works. He also undertook research and wrote text for gallery displays.

Painting Sayers is known for his painted portraits. In Melbourne, he resumed his love of painting, producing several portraits in his Richmond studio which he entered in competitions. 2010: Member of the Order of Australia, for service to arts administration, particularly as the director of the National Portrait Gallery, and to the promotion of Australian portraiture He died on 11 October 2015, aged 58.

His curatorship at the National Gallery "led to significant redefinitions of Australian art",

In 2018, the inaugural Andrew Sayers Memorial Lecture was held at the NPG, given by artist Tim Bonyhady, the subject of Sayers' 2015 entry for the Archibald Prize. The series is continuing.

Personal life Sayers was married to Perry, and they had three daughters.

He ran 15 marathons between 2005 and 2014.

Publications Drawing in Australia (1989) Aboriginal Artists of the 19th Century (1994) Australian Art (2001; Oxford History of Art series)