Gene Sherman (art specialist)

Sherman was born in 1947 and raised in South Africa to parents of European Jewish background. In the aftermath of the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, her parents decided to emigrate to Australia. They arrived in Melbourne in 1964, but returned to South Africa nine months later due to the large distances and political disagreement with the White Australia Policy.[2] Upon return to South Africa, Sherman attended the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (French) (Hons) and a Master of Arts (Hons).[3] During this time she met and later wed Brian Sherman (co-founder of fund management group, EquitiLink, and Chair of Finances for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Committee).[4] The couple have two children.[2]

Sherman once again emigrated to Australia, this time with her young family in 1976, and still lives there. After completing the preliminary research at the Sorbonne in Paris,[5] back in Australia, Sherman completed a doctorate in early 20th-century French Literature in 1981 at the University of Sydney.[6] Sherman taught at the University of Sydney (1976 to 1980) and was appointed Head of Modern Languages at Ascham School in Sydney from 1981 to 1986.[7]

• Adjunct Professor, UNSW Art & Design;[19]
• Co-chair of the Acquisitions Committee of the TATE Asia Pacific (2009 to 2019)[20] and Member of the TATE International Council (2019);[21][20]
• Inaugural Patron of the Centre for Fashion at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (formerly: Powerhouse Museum), Sydney (2015 to 2018);[6]
• Trustee, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (1995 to 2001);[22]
• Board Member, Bundanon Trust (1995 to 2002);[23]
• Deputy Chair, Power Institute Council at the University of Sydney (1996 to 2006);[24]
• Art + Australia (later: ArtAND) Editorial Advisory Board (2003 to 2015);[25]
• Member, National Portrait Gallery Advisory Board, Canberra (2009 to 2011) and Deputy Chair, National Portrait Gallery Board of Trustees, Canberra (2011 to 2015);[6]
• Member, Commissioner's Council, Australian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (2007 to 2009);[26]
• Board Member, National Gallery of Australia Foundation, Canberra (2000 to 2009);[27]
• Chair, Voiceless Council (2009 to 2015);[28]
• Board Member, Australia Israel Cultural Exchange (AICE) (2005 to 2010);[29]
• Patron, NSW Friends of Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design, Jerusalem (2005 to 2010);[30]
• Member, International Council of the Asia Society, New York (2001 to 2003);[31]
• Member, Advisory Board of the Asia Society, Australasia Centre (2002 to 2003);[32]
• Member, Cultural Advisory Committee to the City of Sydney (1997 to 1999);
• Board Member, Australian Centre for Photography (1994 to 1997);[33]
• Board Member, Visual Arts Export Group (1996);
• Board Member, Alliance Française de Sydney (1991 to 1994).

Sherman is the recipient of the following awards:

• Honorary Doctorate of Design from the University of Technology, Sydney and University of Sydney (2017);[34]
• B’nai B’rith award (2014);[1]
• Member of the Order of Australia (2010);[35]
• Officer of the ’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2016);[6] and previously the Chevalier level in 2003;[34]
• Honorary Doctorate Letters honoris from University of Sydney (2008) and of Design from University of Technology, Sydney (2017).[24]