- The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Australia has appointed celebrated contemporary artist Ben Quilty as its first Ambassador, supporting large-scale conservation efforts across the country.
- Quilty, renowned for his powerful portrayals of people and the Australian landscape, believes art can connect people emotionally to the natural world, transforming awareness into action in ways that facts alone sometimes cannot.
- As Ambassador, Quilty will contribute to TNC Australia's storytelling, campaigns and engagement efforts, helping to highlight the urgency of conservation while celebrating Australia's unique natural landscapes and seascapes.
Australia’s landscapes are at a tipping point prompting one of the country’s most influential artists to step forward in support of large-scale conservation.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Australia has announced celebrated contemporary artist Ben Quilty, as its first Ambassador. A leading voice in the nation’s art community, Quilty is renowned for his powerful portrayals of people and place, with the Australian landscape a constant presence.
“For as long as I’ve been making art, the Australian landscape has been both my subject and my teacher,” said Quilty. “The deserts, the rivers, the coastlines - they’re not just backdrops to our lives. They shape who we are. They hold our stories. And they’re under pressure like never before.”
Quilty believes art can cut through complexity and connect people emotionally to the natural world - helping to transform awareness into action.
“Art is a language that can move people in ways facts alone sometimes can’t,” he said. “A single image can shift perspective, open a conversation, or spark a sense of responsibility. When we feel something deeply, we begin to care. And when we care, we protect.”
As Ambassador, Quilty will contribute to TNC Australia’s storytelling, campaigns and engagement efforts, helping to amplify the urgency of conservation while celebrating the extraordinary and unique natural land and seascapes that define Australia.
“Across Australia, from our forests to our oceans, nature sustains us - culturally, economically and emotionally,” said Lara Gallagher, TNC Australia Country Director. “Ben’s ability to capture both beauty and vulnerability makes him an extraordinary advocate. His voice will help more Australians see what’s at stake - and what’s worth protecting.”
Quilty has also worked closely with Indigenous communities throughout his career, deepening his understanding of Country as something lived, cared for, and understood over tens of thousands of years. He emphasised that these perspectives are essential to how Australians understand and protect nature today.
“Spending time with Indigenous artists and communities has shifted something fundamental in me. It’s made me realise that Country isn’t just a subject - it’s a living relationship, built on care, responsibility and deep time. That’s a story we all need to understand.”
Gallagher says through this partnership, TNC Australia aims to engage broader audiences in conservation, demonstrating that protecting nature is not only a scientific or policy challenge, but a cultural one - requiring imagination, empathy and collective responsibility.
“Our work is deeply grounded in partnership with Indigenous communities, whose leadership and knowledge are critical to caring for Country. We are proud to see this reflected in Ben’s perspective.”
Quilty says this country is home to some of the most extraordinary environments on Earth.
“They deserve our creativity, our care and our protection. I’m proud to stand alongside The Nature Conservancy and use my voice and my art to help tell that story.”
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Supporting images and video footage of Ben talking about his role with TNC are available to download here.
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About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy helps people and nature thrive by protecting and restoring ecosystems at scale. Guided by science, we focus on getting things done efficiently and with the greatest positive impact for conservation. We’re a trusted organisation working in more than 83 countries and territories on innovative solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy in Australia, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Contact details:
Ally Catterick, Director of Marketing & Communications
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