Dr Gene Sherman, AM

Dr Gene Sherman AM is a leading Australian cultural figure and philanthropist. She is Founder, Executive and Artistic Director of the Sherman Centre for Culture and Ideas (SCCI), established in 2017 as a cultural-exchange platform on fashion and architecture. For 21 years (1986-2007), Dr Sherman was Director and Proprietor of Sherman Galleries, a commercial gallery with a focus on artists from Australia, the Asia Pacific and Middle East. From 2008-2017, Dr Sherman was Chair and Executive Director of the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, presenting 37 projects by significant visual practitioners across art, architecture, fashion, film and design from the Asia Pacific, Australia and Middle East.

Dr Sherman is currently Chair of the Israel Museum Australian Ambassadors Circle (IMAAC), a member of the University of Melbourne AsiaLink Advisory Council, a Member of the Tate International Council (2015-present) and Adjunct Professor, UNSW Art and Design. Between 2009-2019 she served on the Tate Asia-Pacific Acquisitions Committee, co-Chairing this Asia-wide high-focus group between 2015-2019.

Dr Sherman’s awards include an Honorary Doctorate of Design from the University of Technology, Sydney (2017), Honorary Doctorate letters honoris from University of Sydney (2008) and a Doctor of the University honoris causa from the University of New South Wales for services to the fields of art, design and education (2020). The French Government has honoured Dr Sherman with two prestigious awards in its Legion of Honour awards system: the Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2016), and the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2003). She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2010 in recognition of her cultural philanthropy and support of emerging and established artists.