Vanessa Goodwin: Paying Tribute to Stephen Walker

I would like to pay tribute to the renowned Tasmanian sculptor Stephen Walker AM, who passed away this week aged 86.

Born in Victoria in 1927, Mr Walker relocated to Tasmania in 1948.

As a young man, Mr Walker travelled and studied extensively abroad but was continually drawn back to Tasmania. Deeply inspired by Tasmania’s wilderness, he established his own foundry at his home in Campania where he developed and produced his large body of sculptural works.

He exhibited widely throughout his career and his works can be found in many major institutions across Australia, including the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

Awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for Services to Sculpture in 1985, Mr Walker was one of Tasmania’s most outstanding artists.

He was one of Australia’s most prolific and recognisable sculptors and his large scale bronze works can be found in public spaces across the country.

We are lucky to be the home to a large collection of his works; in Hobart at Victoria Dock, Salamanca Square, and Lower Sandy Bay; at the Launceston Civic Square, and in remote Tasmanian locations such as Queenstown, Miena and Cockle Creek.

We are grateful for his contribution to our state and express our sincere condolences to his family and friends on his passing.
Vanessa Goodwin, Minister for the Arts