Your Guide to Art Exhibitions Across Australia
Immerse yourself in the dynamic realm of Australian art and culture,
brought to life by an eclectic range of exhibitions. Take a sneak peek
into the ongoing showcase of creativity that awaits you.
VIC
65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art
May 30 - November 22 2025
Potter Museum of Art
After an extensive period of renovation and renewal, the Potter Museum of Art at the University of Melbourne has finally re-opened with its debut exhibition ‘65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art.’ Featuring more than 400 works, ‘65,000 Years’ celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, whilst also comprehensively exploring Australia’s dark colonial history.
NSW
Dangerously Modern
Thea Proctor, 'The Spotted Jug'
October 11 2025 - February 15, 2026
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The role that female Australian female artists played in the development of modernist art is a narrative that has long been overlooked in the art historical canon. The AGNSW’s Dangerously Modern is a celebration of female artistic ingenuity. Featuring more than 200 works of art, this exhibition is a journey of discovery, highlighting some of Australia’s best known 20th century female artists.
Janet Dawson: Far Away, So Close
Janet Dawson, 'The origin of the Milky Way', 1964, Art Gallery of New South Wales
July 19 2025 - January 18, 2026
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Held at the Art Gallery of NSW until 2026, this free exhibition explores the works of prominent Australian Modernist Janet Dawson. Born in 1935, Dawson’s works defy traditional art historical boundaries. A pioneer of abstraction in Australian art, Dawson is also an accomplished portraitist, winning the Archibald Prize in 1973 with her first ever entry into the annual national competition. For those who love pioneers in Australian art history, this AGNSW retrospective is a must-see.
QLD
Spectrum
July 5 2025 - February 8 2026
Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
The QAGOMA’s newest exhibition ‘Spectrum’ delves into the vivid world of Australian abstract paintings, with a focus on the developments of modernism in Australia and the rise of the Abstract art movement. Featuring artists such as John Peart, Helga Groves and Michael Johnson, this exhibition covers a dynamic range of art, from the 1960s to the Contemporary era. For lovers of Australian abstract art, this exhibition is a must-see.
National Interest: Australian Art in the 20th Century
Until February 21 2027
Hervey Bay Regional Gallery
Hervey Bay Regional Gallery’s ‘National Interests’ exhibition is an exploration of the development of modernism in Australia. Pairing works from the gallery’s own collection with significant works from the National Gallery of Australia, this exhibition delves into the interconnected nature of Australian nationalism and the creation of a distinct national art movement. Featuring artists such as Arthur Boyd, Keith Namatjira, Sidney Nolan, and Margaret Preston, this exhibition captures the broad scope of modernism in Australia.
SA
Rethinking Australian Art
Philippe Le Miere ‘Alice Kelly and Family’
Currently Showing
Art Gallery of South Australia
By re-hanging these selected artworks from their collection, the Art Gallery of South Australia aims to re-explore Australian Art History. Challenging the notion of a national art scene that was isolated or singular, this presentation of art showcases the intricate and revolutionary shifts that took place in Australian art following the Second World War - including the emergence of Aboriginal art, the momentum of the Feminist art movement, and the ascent of conceptual art and postmodernism.