Category: ART

See The National Gallery’s The Petit Bras by Monet from 2025-27

Who says you have to travel to Paris to soak up some Monet? Thanks to the National Gallery’s Masterpiece Tour 2025–27, you can experience genius-level Impressionism without even needing your passport. Monet’s The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872) is packing its bags—well, metaphorically—and hitting the road for a once-in-two-decades adventure across the UK. It’s the equivalent of an A-list celebrity making a rare appearance in your local gallery. Don’t miss the chance to say, “I saw it here first” when it rolls into Norwich, South Shields, Blackpool, and Hull. This is serious art with some fabulous side quests. The painting, which depicts Monet’s tranquil moment by a wintery riverside, will pop up in four unique galleries, each adding its own creative spin. From trauma-informed cafés designed to foster community healing at the Sainsbury Centre to multi-sensory, accessible installations at the Ferens Art Gallery, the exhibitions aim to make sure art for everyone isn’t just a catchy slogan. And let’s not forget the annual schools’ responses, artistic collaborations, and even the chance to see the work exhibited alongside cutting-edge contemporary art. The National Gallery’s Masterpiece Tour has been impressing art fans far and wide for over a decade—over a million visitors and counting, in fact! Sir Gabriele Finaldi, National Gallery Director (and clearly a fan of bringing the art to the people), puts it best when he says it’s about connecting art to the entire cultural ecosystem of the UK. Monet might’ve painted calm rivers and whispering trees, but the buzz of excitement… Read More

Australian Museum announces Machu Pichhu exhibition extension

The Australian Museum (AM) has cracked open the good news today by announcing the extension of its blockbuster summer exhibition, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, until Sunday 11 May 2025. Because, why not give you more time to soak up the wonders of the Andes without the hassle of leaving Sydney? To really crank up the South American vibes, the AM is hosting Fiesta de Perú, a two-day festival bursting with music, dance, food, and all things cultural. Running from Saturday 22 February to Sunday 23 February 2025, it’s a Peruvian extravaganza you really don’t want to miss (unless you’re allergic to fun, of course). With a mix of free and ticketed events, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a foodie, a music lover, a history nerd, or just someone looking for the perfect Instagram post. Oh, and just in case you needed another reason to check it out, the extended exhibition isn’t just showing off its 134 jaw-dropping artefacts; it’s also got an award-winning virtual reality tour of Machu Picchu. Basically, it’s a history lesson that’s way cooler than what you had to sit through in high school. Highlights of Fiesta de Perú And here’s the cherry on top—visitors have exclusive chances to win prizes, including a 10-day, once-in-a-lifetime trip to Peru (thanks, Adventure World and LATAM Airlines). Plus, each exhibition-related booking to Peru during this time sends 10% of the proceeds to the Australian Museum Foundation. Win-win, right? Plan Your Visit Don’t dawdle! Head to australian.museum to snag your tickets… Read More

Experience the best of art, fashion, and performance at NGV

Looking for something fun, inspiring, and yes, a little bit cultured? The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has got you covered with an array of exciting programs and exhibitions that’ll make you sound super sophisticated at your next dinner party. From a major retrospective of Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie, to Kusama-inspired discussions and even fashion curator talks, there’s plenty to see and do. Oh, and did I mention some of it is free? You’re welcome. REKOSPECTIVE: The Art of Reko Rennie Closing weekend plans sorted! On 25 January at 12.00pm, join Sophie Prince, NGV Curatorial Project Officer for Australian and First Nations Art, for a fascinating tour of REKOSPECTIVE, the largest exhibition of Reko Rennie’s career (no big deal, right?). This is your chance to explore over 100 works that highlight Rennie’s innovative responses to history, culture, and material. Oh, and he’s been extra busy—there’s even a brand-new artwork making its grand debut. Don’t miss this free tour before the exhibition closes on 27 January. Yep, FOMO is real. Event details Midsumma Festival at NGV It’s not a celebration without a touch of creativity and queerness, right? From 22-23 January, NGV Australia hosts the NGV Teens x Midsumma | Queer Dialogues, a free program inviting teens to explore LGBTIQA+ stories and artworks. Facilitators include actor Ben Goss and savvy NGV curators, so yes, it’s way cooler than the average teen workshop. For those deep thinkers, don’t miss Performance as Protest on 8 February at NGV International, an insightful (and maybe slightly nerdy) discussion about Yayoi… Read More

Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers breaks records at the National Gallery

Vincent van Gogh continues to captivate audiences like no other. With 334,589 visits, the recently concluded Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers exhibition at the National Gallery has officially become the most popular ticketed exhibition in the museum’s history. Running from 14 September 2024 to 19 January 2025, the exhibition surpassed the attendance of previous record-holders, including Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan (323,827 visits) and Velázquez (302,520 visits). The record-breaking numbers included an astonishing final weekend, during which the exhibition ran non-stop for 36 hours from Friday evening to Saturday night (17–18 January) to meet overwhelming demand. This marked only the second time in the museum’s history that such an around-the-clock event was held, the first being the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition in 2012. Over the closing weekend alone, more than 19,500 people, or one visitor every 10 seconds, walked through the gallery’s doors to see Van Gogh’s incredible works. An Exhibition That Redefined Van Gogh Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers provided visitors with a unique and moving exploration of the artist’s imaginative transformations. This was the National Gallery’s first exhibition entirely dedicated to Vincent van Gogh and included over 60 works from museums and private collections across the globe. Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, summed up the significance of the exhibition perfectly, saying, “Van Gogh has become a talisman for passion, authenticity and commitment to his art. The paintings in this exhibition are among his most striking works and have a freshness and immediacy about them. The show… Read More

Van Gogh All Night: The National Gallery’s Final Weekend Treat

The National Gallery in London has pulled out all the stops for Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers. If you’ve missed securing a ticket to this blockbuster exhibition, don’t despair just yet. For one night only – and we mean all night – the Gallery is opening its doors from 9pm on Friday, 17 January 2025, until 10am the next morning, in an epic finale for its sell-out masterpiece binge. Tickets for these newly added late-night slots go on sale today, Thursday 9 January, and they’re bound to fly faster than you can say “Starry Night.” With over 280,000 visitors already wowed by the exhibition, this extra stretch of hours is pure gold for anyone still angling to see Van Gogh’s world-class works. And while staying up all night might usually come with regrets and a bad takeaway, this is an opportunity you’ll actually feel smug about. Historical Moment: Art After Dark This isn’t your bog-standard museum trip. It’s only the second time in history that the Gallery has thrown open its doors through the night. The first? Back in 2012, when people flocked in the wee hours to see Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan. According to Sir Gabriele Finaldi, the Gallery’s Director, this nocturnal escapade takes its cues from some of the luminaries of the art world. Lucian Freud, David Hockney, and Francis Bacon, for instance, were known to haunt the Gallery during nightly hours, letting the stillness feed their creative souls. Freud himself once quipped, “I use the gallery as… Read More