Andrew Sayers was a much loved and highly respected member of the arts community. He came to Canberra in 1985 to take up the position of Curator of Australia Drawings at the National Gallery and subsequently became inaugural Director of the National Portrait Gallery and Director of the National Museum of Australia.

He was a scholar in Australian art, with a focus on drawing, and published extensively. He recently devoted his energies to painting and his portrait of ANU academic Professor Tim Bonyhady was selected for the Archibald Prize earlier this year.

Andrew Sayers died at home in Melbourne on 11 October, 2015.