New art in Sydney: Jumaadi’s magical “Upside-Down Garden” at Barangaroo
Discover Upside-Down Garden by Jumaadi at Barangaroo South—a magical permanent artwork featuring hanging sculptures, shadow play, and an immersive soundscape.
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Tag: sydney art
New art in Sydney: Nell’s “Face Everything”
At the Heide Museum of Modern Art, the walls of the iconic Heide Modern building have taken on a newfound vibrancy. Celebrated Australian artist Nell has reimagined this historic space with her latest exhibition, Face Everything, on display until 1 March 2026. Channelled through more than 85 works spanning her rich 30-year career, including over 50 newly created pieces, Nell transforms the former Reed family home into an evocative, layered environment brimming with life, memory, and creative energy. Art Meets History in a Nest for the Soul Face Everything isn’t simply a showcase of Nell’s artwork; it’s an extension of Heide Modern itself. Nestled within the domestic and garden-filled history of this storied building, Nell’s installation envelopes the viewer in a reimagined home that she likens to a nest. “Together, my extended family of characters and spirits inhabit Heide Modern. They hold space for celebration and joy, complexity and grief, and everything in between,” explains Nell. Drawing on materials that reflect both the mundane and the extraordinary, the works weave together the house’s past and present. Household objects mingle with natural motifs such as eggs, leaves, birds, and apples, reflecting the harmonious interplay of home, art, and nature envisioned by original occupants John and Sunday Reed. The exhibition also honours architect David McGlashan’s vision for the building, where the boundaries between the house and garden blur. Through Nell’s creations, Heide Modern pulsates with new energy, bridging the interior and exterior worlds, while evoking themes of care, memory, and the cycles of life. Faces and Spirits… Read More
Neighbour at the Gate: a groundbreaking exhibition at the National Art School
This week, the National Art School (NAS) unveils its highly anticipated new exhibition, The Neighbour at the Gate. Opening to the public on 11 July 2025, to coincide with NAIDOC Week, the exhibition will run until 18 October 2025 at the NAS Gallery in Darlinghurst, NSW. Curated by an esteemed team led by Wardandi (Noongar) and Badimaya (Yamatji) woman Clothilde Bullen OAM, alongside Micheal Do and Whadjuk Balladong and Wilman (Noongar) woman Zali Morgan, this world premiere exhibition delves into the enduring legacies of immigration policies and colonialism in Australia. It explores how these forces continue to shape the experiences and relationships of First Nations and Asian Australian communities. A Powerful Artistic Collaboration The Neighbour at the Gate brings together newly commissioned works by six leading contemporary artists: Jacky Cheng, Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson, Dennis Golding, Jenna Mayilema Lee, James Nguyen, and James Tylor. Through their diverse practices, the exhibition examines themes of exclusion, resilience, memory, and nationhood, drawing vital connections between the past and present. Curator Clothilde Bullen explains, “This exhibition seeks to centre connection between First Nations and Asian Australian cultural groups and raise the level of awareness of those connections, which have existed outside dominant or mainstream culture for as long as humans have come and gone to this continent. By gathering the artists and curators together to tell their stories, we consider the importance of who gets to tell these stories, the archive from which they are drawn, and how they shape perceptions and identities. It is urgent and timely that we offer… Read More
Why rush to National Art School postgrad show
Step into the vibrant world of the arts at the National Art School (NAS) as it proudly unveils the 2024 Postgrad Show, a spectacular showcase of over 400 works by Australia’s next generation of emerging artists. Open to the public until 17 November 2024, this annual exhibition has firmly established itself as a pivotal event in Sydney’s cultural calendar, attracting gallerists, collectors, and art enthusiasts eager to discover fresh talent. The Postgrad Show serves as a launchpad for these budding artists, featuring the final bodies of work by the Master of Fine Art (MFA) graduates. This year’s exhibition offers an eclectic mix of mediums including painting, sculpture, printmaking, video, collage, 3D printing, performance, photography, drawing, and ceramics. Each piece is a testament to the diverse themes being explored—ranging from natural and digital ecosystems to identity, the Anthropocene, philosophy, and personal narratives. Ceramics take centre stage with artists like Benjamin Akuila, who delves into themes of construction, authenticity, and plasticity, informed by his Tongan heritage. His work offers a compelling exploration of queer and diasporic identity through hybrid cultural narratives. Meanwhile, Chrystie Longworth uses ceramic forms to navigate femininity, identity, and domesticity, drawing inspiration from historical subversive messages crafted by women in textiles. Her work, with its tactile terracotta and pigment surfaces, invites viewers to experience a subtle play of light and texture. From the drawing studios, Quan Zhu Ma marries traditional Chinese philosophy with contemporary practices, using innovative materials like heated charcoal and ash. His work reimagines traditional ink art, creating a fusion that resonates… Read More
New art in Sydney Glenn Barkley comes to Sullivan+Strumpf
Get ready to dive into the wonderfully bizarre world of Glenn Barkley as Sullivan+Strumpf’s Sydney gallery rolls out the red carpet for his latest solo exhibition, “experimental idiocy.” From Thursday, November 14 until Saturday, December 21, 2024, visitors will have the chance to explore a compelling new body of work that turns the fleeting digital chatter and shifting political climate into enduring pieces of art. Barkley, a trailblazer in the ceramics field, is pushing boundaries once again, transforming everyday digital noises into permanent art statements. His work in “experimental idiocy” features text from political speeches and online rhetoric, emblazoned onto ceramics to create a lasting commentary on our evolving cultural landscape. You’ll encounter phrases like “double haters” and “Anglosphere mind virus,” each firing up a conversation about the world we live in. This exhibition marks Barkley’s first solo outing in Australia following a string of successful museum projects. Known for challenging traditional ceramic norms, Barkley’s latest creations abandon functionality, turning vessels into platforms for sharp social critique. The exhibition is not just about pushing clay; it’s about pushing ideas. Central to “experimental idiocy” is Barkley’s concept of “mnemonic archaeology,” where he digs into memories influenced by personal experiences and global changes. This introspective dive allows him to revisit past concepts, imbuing his work with profound depth and resonance. For those who are mad for ceramics or just curious about cutting-edge art, this exhibition is a must-see. Barkley, whose works are housed in collections both here and abroad, has also made waves with his book, “Ceramics:… Read More
Sydney Contemporary announces MA Art Prize winner as First Nations artist Alfred Lowe
The eighth edition of Sydney Contemporary opens its doors today at Carriageworks, promising an exhilarating display of artistic prowess that spans the globe.
New kind of Sri-Lankan Australian art in Sydney
There’s a Sri-Lankan Australian artist, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, who’s putting on an art show entitled The Self Portrait and the Masks. And you need to see it in Sydney.
Unveiling WILDER TIMES: Arthur Boyd and the Mid-1980s Landscape
Bundanon has proudly launched WILDER TIMES: Arthur Boyd and the Mid-1980s Landscape, a compelling new exhibition and live program brimming with 80s-inspired events, running from now until 13 October 2024. This initiative offers a vivid glimpse into a period of rich cultural dynamism in Australia, marked by critical conversations around landscape, land ownership, and environmental protection. Exhibition Highlights The exhibition showcases works from over 25 distinguished Australian artists from the mid-1980s. Central to the exhibition are Arthur Boyd’s fourteen powerful landscape paintings, commissioned in 1984 by Arts Centre Melbourne. These monumental pieces have returned to Bundanon for the first time since their creation, now displayed alongside more than 60 significant works by other influential Australian artists of that era, including David Aspden, Vivienne Binns, and Rover Joolama Thomas, to name a few. Boyd’s commission was part of a broader initiative led by renowned designer John Truscott, aimed at incorporating new works within Arts Centre Melbourne’s interiors. These commissions were integral to Truscott’s vision of the theatres as a ‘secular cathedral to the arts’, resonating strongly with Arthur and Yvonne Boyd’s vision for Bundanon and reflecting the period’s vibrant cultural milieu. The Boyd Connection Arthur Boyd’s suite of paintings captures the essence of the Shoalhaven landscape from dawn to midnight, epitomising his deep respect for the natural world. These works record Boyd’s observations through rough paintings and sketches created in situ, before being realised on canvas in his Bundanon studio. The series now graces Bundanon’s Art Museum, underscoring Boyd’s commitment to environmental preservation and his profound… Read More
Anne Zahalka’s major exhibition at the National Art School Sydney
The Museum of Australian Photography is proud to announce the release of a captivating catalogue showcasing the remarkable works of Anne Zahalka, one of Australia’s most esteemed photographers. This catalogue serves as a testament to Zahalka’s artistic prowess and her significant contributions to the realm of photography. Steven Alderton, the CEO of the National Art School, commended Zahalka’s profound connection to the institution, stating, “Anne Zahalka has a long connection to the National Art School. After studying at NAS in 1978, she was a photo-media teacher during the 1980s. Since then, she has gone on to become one of the most prominent artists working in photography today, and we are thrilled to be presenting her major survey exhibition to our visitors and students.” Anne Zahalka herself expressed her excitement about the upcoming major survey of her work at the National Art School in Sydney, her hometown. She shared, “I’m excited to be presenting a major survey of my work at the National Art School in Sydney in my hometown. Curated around my key photographic series and the archive that supports it, this immersive exhibition will offer a first-hand experience of how I develop artworks, the research and material processes that are involved, and the context the works are made in.” Delving into Anne Zahalka’s artistic journey Anne Zahalka’s body of work encapsulates a diverse range of themes, from cultural identity and representation to the exploration of everyday life through a unique lens. Her photographs are known for their striking visual narratives, meticulous attention to detail,… Read More
Generation Clay: reimagining Asian heritage
Generation Clay: Reimagining Asian Heritage is an exhibition that celebrates the vibrant versatility of clay, curated by the award-winning contemporary artist Vipoo Srivilasa.