ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Tony Albert and Elizabeth Cameron Dalman Receive French Order of Arts and Letters

award · 2026-04-20

On December 2, the French Embassy in Australia celebrated Tony Albert and Elizabeth Cameron Dalman by awarding them the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. This award, which has been around since 1957, recognizes remarkable achievements in the arts globally. Tony Albert, a First Nations artist born in 1981, explores Aboriginal and Australian political history through painting, photography, and mixed media. He’s recently been appointed the first First Nations Curatorial Fellow for the 2024 Biennale of Sydney and is directing the fifth National Indigenous Art Triennial, "After the Rain." Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, born in 1934, is a renowned choreographer who founded the Australian Dance Theatre and currently heads the Mirramu Creative Arts Centre. Earlier this year, she was honored as a member of the Order of Australia. This event highlights France's appreciation for cultural contributions from around the world.

Key facts

  • Tony Albert and Elizabeth Cameron Dalman received the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres on December 2
  • The award was presented by the French Embassy in Australia
  • The Order of Arts and Letters was established in 1957
  • Tony Albert was born in 1981 and is a First Nations artist
  • Albert works in painting, photography, and mixed media
  • Albert is the inaugural Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain First Nations Curatorial Fellow for the 2024 Biennale of Sydney
  • Albert is artistic director for the fifth National Indigenous Art Triennial "After the Rain"
  • Elizabeth Cameron Dalman was born in 1934 and is a choreographer, teacher, and performer
  • Dalman founded and was first artistic director of the Australian Dance Theatre in Adelaide
  • Dalman directs the Mirramu Creative Arts Centre and Mirramu Dance Company in New South Wales
  • Dalman was appointed a member of the Order of Australia earlier this year in the King's Birthday Honours
  • Joan Yiquan Chen is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific

Entities

Artists

  • Tony Albert
  • Elizabeth Cameron Dalman
  • Joan Yiquan Chen

Institutions

  • French Embassy in Australia
  • Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain
  • Biennale of Sydney
  • National Indigenous Art Triennial
  • Australian Dance Theatre
  • Mirramu Creative Arts Centre
  • Mirramu Dance Company
  • ArtAsiaPacific

Locations

  • Australia
  • France
  • Adelaide
  • New South Wales
  • Sydney

Sources