How Australian Chefs and Farmers Are Rediscovering the Ingredients That Have Been There All Along

Author Bruce Pascoe and a new generation of Australian chefs are leading a movement to rediscover and commercialize native Indigenous ingredients like kangaroo grass, Kakadu plums, and wattleseeds. By revisiting historical archives and journals from 19th-century explorers, Pascoe’s research in his book *Dark Emu* challenges the colonial narrative that Indigenous Australians were solely nomadic hunter-gatherers, revealing instead a sophisticated history of permanent settlements, irrigation, and organized agriculture.

You Need To See This Queensland Artist’s New Solo Exhibition

Mitchell Fine Art in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley is hosting a free solo exhibition titled 'Unbound' by Sunshine Coast-based artist Odessa Mahony-de Vries, running from May 5 to May 16, 2026. The show features large-scale abstract expressionist oil paintings, with a launch event on May 8 offering the public a chance to meet the artist. Mahony-de Vries, a finalist in the 2025 Redland Art and 2024 Stanthorpe Art Prize, creates works that balance control and unpredictability, leaving earlier brushstrokes visible to embed the history of each piece.

Denver Art Museum announces major exhibition of Australian Indigenous Art

The Denver Art Museum has announced a major touring exhibition of Australian Indigenous Art, set to open in April 2026. The show is a collaborative effort organized by the National Gallery of Victoria and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and will also travel to the Portland Art Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum.

Flowers laid after Bondi terror attack will form new work of art at Sydney Jewish Museum

Floral tributes left at Bondi Beach after a deadly terrorist attack on a Hanukkah celebration in December 2024 have been collected and will be transformed into an art installation at the Sydney Jewish Museum. Jewish Australian artist Nina Sanadze, born in Georgia and based in Melbourne, is working with volunteers to dry and process the flowers in a Sydney warehouse, experimenting with resin, bronze casting, and composted materials to create a work that may depict beachgoers fleeing the attack. The museum, currently closed for redevelopment, plans to feature the installation in a special exhibition when it reopens in 2027.

How ‘archaeological ceramicist’ Yasmin Smith has forever changed the way I look at flint

Yasmin Smith, an Australian artist described as an 'archaeological ceramicist,' presents her solo exhibition *Elemental Life* at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) in Sydney, running until June 8. The show features sculptural installations that use ceramics and glaze technologies to decode environmental and human histories. Key works include *Seine River Basin (2019)*, commissioned by the Centre Pompidou, which uses ash-glazed stoneware replicas of tree branches to reflect the chemical history of the River Seine, and *Chicxulub (2025)*, which draws on samples from the asteroid impact crater in Mexico to explore mass extinction. Smith’s practice involves extensive field research and collaboration with ecologists, archaeologists, and local communities, creating site-specific glazes that act as chemical records of place and time.

Participants withdraw from Chicago Architecture Biennial over sponsor’s investment in weapons manufacturer

Nine participants in the Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB), which opened on September 19, have withdrawn in protest over exhibition sponsor Crown Family Philanthropies' investment in General Dynamics, a military contractor supplying weapons to the Israeli military. A letter signed by 22 individuals, collectives, and firms—nearly half of whom also withdrew—argues that the sponsorship contradicts the biennial's mission of addressing architecture's role in shaping a collective future. The biennial's sixth edition, titled SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change, is led by artistic director Florencia Rodriguez. Participants had raised concerns last month, and organizers clarified that Crown Family funds support education programming, not the exhibition itself, which the letter calls "even more painful" given the destruction of schools in Gaza.

Benalla Art Gallery to close but temporary gallery to open

Benalla Art Gallery is set to close its current location, but a temporary gallery will open to ensure continued access to art for the community. The article also highlights local artist Lisa Brand, whose passion for mosaics is inspiring students in Benalla and the surrounding district, with her works potentially enduring for centuries like ancient mosaics.

Fibre Arts Australia touring exhibit highlights 39 artists

Fibre Arts Australia's third International Art Textile Biennale is now touring Australia, featuring 39 textile artists from 10 countries. The exhibition will visit nine galleries across the country through September 2026. At its debut at East Gippsland Art Gallery, three Australian artists received biennale awards: Sue Coppock won the Major Award (AU$2,000) for her embroidered fencing mask 'Are You Wearing a Mask Right Now?', Claudia Mazzotta won the Australian Excellence Award for 'Untouched Terrains', and Nicola Oliver won the Glenys Mann Award for 'Shadows Where Life Once Was'.

Artist ‘lost everything’ after cleared of rape

Anthony Lister, once called "Australia's Banksy," is staging a comeback with a new exhibition titled "Circus of Life" after being acquitted of sexual assault charges. The six-year legal battle, which began with a police raid on his Sydney home in 2020, led to the cancellation of his shows, financial ruin, and public vilification. Despite being found not guilty on all counts by a jury in under a minute, Lister says his reputation and career were destroyed, and he now challenges the art world and Australian public to accept him back.

New exhibition at Buxton reveals insights into Chinese conceptual art

The University of Melbourne's Buxton Contemporary has opened a new exhibition titled "Poetry goes no further than language," which examines the emergence of conceptual art in China during the mid-1980s and early 1990s. Featuring works by the Beijing collective New Measurement Group and Shanghai artist Qian Weikang, the show also includes a new commission by Victorian College of the Arts graduate Darcey Bella Arnold. Curated by Dr. Carol Yinghua Lu, Director of Beijing's Inside-Out Art Museum, together with artist Liu Ding, the exhibition brings previously inaccessible or little-known works to Australia for the first time.

Buxton Unveils Chinese Conceptual Art Exhibition

The University of Melbourne's Buxton Contemporary has opened "Poetry goes no further than language: A historical moment of art becoming art again," an exhibition examining the emergence of conceptual art in China during the mid-1980s and early 1990s. It features works by the Beijing collective New Measurement Group and Shanghai artist Qian Weikang, alongside a new commission by Victorian College of the Arts graduate Darcey Bella Arnold. The exhibition is curated by Dr. Carol Yinghua Lu, Director of Beijing's Inside-Out Art Museum, and artist Liu Ding.

A big moment for a city that loves art

Geelong Gallery in Australia is preparing to host "Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel, art dealer among the artists," its most ambitious international exhibition ever, running from 20 June to 11 October. The show features over 70 paintings by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and second-generation Impressionists, with most works from a private French collection never before seen in Australia. The exhibition marks the gallery's 130th anniversary and is supported by the Geelong Major Events committee. Separately, the genU artX Regional 2026 exhibition at Rachinger Gallery showcases over 130 works by artists with disabilities or mental illness, on view until 22 May.

Ballast review: emerging artist Isabella Kennedy considers submerged histories

Emerging multidisciplinary artist Isabella Kennedy has unveiled her installation 'Ballast' at Firstdraft in Sydney, a site-specific work that blends paper sculpture, video projection, and sound. The exhibition draws on the unfinished research of her late father, journalist Les Kennedy, regarding the 1941 disappearance of the HMAS Sydney II. Through delicate stitched paper forms and immersive blue light, Kennedy explores themes of familial grief, maritime history, and the meditative acts of remembrance that bridge personal and national narratives.

Ethiopia’s Africa Hall wins Modernist conservation award

The World Monuments Fund and Knoll have awarded the 2026 World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize to the Australia-based architecture firm Architectus for its conservation of Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The building, completed in 1961 and designed by Italian architect Arturo Mezzedimi, serves as the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and was commissioned by Emperor Haile Selassie. The decade-long, $57 million restoration project, completed in October 2024, involved local experts, restored original furniture and stained-glass windows by artist Afewerk Tekle, and modernized the structure while preserving its modernist vision. The jury also awarded its first Stewardship Award for Modernist Homes to the Umbrella House in Sarasota, Florida, designed by Paul Rudolph.

Howard Arkley dominates list of year’s top art sales

Howard Arkley has overtaken Brett Whiteley as the top-selling Australian artist at auction in 2025, with his spray-painted depictions of Melbourne suburbia dominating the year's art sales. The shift reflects a growing collector appetite for Arkley's vibrant, airbrushed scenes of brick homes and suburban life, which have surged past Whiteley's iconic Sydney Harbour views in auction results as the 2025 season concludes.

Good praxis: How a former brothel became one of Adelaide's leading arts spaces - InReview

The article profiles praxis ARTSPACE in Adelaide, Australia, which was originally a former brothel and is now a leading arts space celebrating its tenth anniversary. Founded and directed by Patty Chehade, the space offers professional exhibition facilities for emerging and established artists, featuring a mix of one-person and thematic shows. Notable artists exhibited include Liz Butler, Dianne Longley, Olga Sankey, and Margaret Ambridge.

Lord of the Rings artist joins fantasy exhibition on Dartmoor

An exhibition titled 'Widdershins 3' at Green Hill Arts on Dartmoor showcases fantasy art inspired by Devon folklore, featuring works by renowned artists Brian Froud, Wendy Froud, and Alan Lee, who have contributed to projects like 'Lord of the Rings', 'Labyrinth', and 'The Dark Crystal'. The show includes 19 artists and has drawn visitors from Europe, America, and Australia, with free admission to ensure broad accessibility.

Chihuly glass art exhibition fuels SA economy with record visitor turnout

The "Chihuly in the Botanic Garden" exhibition at Adelaide Botanic Garden concluded after seven months, drawing 1.4 million visitors and generating $55.7 million in economic benefits for South Australia. The show featured Seattle-based artist Dale Chihuly's glass sculptures, including ticketed experiences like "In Full Colour: Dale Chihuly" and "Chihuly Nights," which attracted over 200,000 attendees. Key artworks, including the Glacier Ice and Lapis Chandelier and the Jet and Crimson Fiori, will remain as permanent fixtures thanks to donations from local philanthropists.

Maitland Regional Art Gallery turns up the heat this winter

Maitland Regional Art Gallery (MRAG) is launching its winter exhibition season with a free public event on Friday 25 July, featuring seven new exhibitions. Highlights include a solo show by Hunter-based artist Rebecca Rath, a video art collection from ACMI, and the exhibition '9.5 – The Elliott Eyes Bequest,' which celebrates a major donation of over 460 contemporary artworks from collectors Gordon Elliott and Michael Eyes. Other exhibitions include works by local artist Steffie Yee and Ken Unsworth, with guided tours and artist talks scheduled throughout the season.

Painting through trauma

Israeli artist Ilan Adar, whose Jaffa studio was a cultural hub before October 7, found himself unable to paint after the attacks as tourism and daily visitors vanished. Encouraged by collector Josh Liberman, Adar created 'Echoes of the Tribe,' an exhibition now showing in Melbourne, Australia. The works, built from red pigment and layered with emotion, explore themes of shared human connection, memory, and resilience. The exhibition was organized with the help of Alexandra Pyke to support Israeli artists facing discrimination and economic hardship post-October 7.

Working in the arts: opportunities from Arte Laguna Prize, Reggio Parma Festival, Italian Cultural Institute of London, Museo Mitoraj

Lavorare nell’arte: opportunità da Arte Laguna Prize, Reggio Parma Festival, Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Londra, Museo Mitoraj

Artribune has compiled a list of five open calls and job opportunities in Italy for visual artists, theater professionals, curators, and digital media specialists. The opportunities include the Arte Laguna Prize 2026 offering exhibitions at Venice's Arsenale Nord and international residencies at venues like The Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai and BigCi in Australia; the Gradus theater residency program by Reggio Parma Festival; an artist residency for Italians under 40 at Camberwell College of Arts in London organized by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Londra; the Terre Alte residency for visual artists and curators under 36 by CasermArcheologica; and a digital media specialist position at the Fondazione Museo Igor Mitoraj.

Landor partners with Museum of Contemporary Art Australia on landmark AI exhibition

Landor Australia partnered with the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia) to create "Data Dreams: Art and AI," a landmark exhibition featuring ten international artists exploring art and artificial intelligence. Landor developed "Data Dreamscape," a generative identity system and interactive experience where visitors typed in dream memories, which AI transformed into unique artworks. The identity was applied across marketing, merchandise, and in-gallery applications, with approximately 3,000 visitors engaging with the tool during the exhibition's run.

Australian Indigenous Art Speaks to Contemporary Concerns

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne, in collaboration with the National Gallery (NGA) in Washington, D.C., has organized 'The Stars We Do Not See,' the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of Australian Indigenous art ever shown outside Australia. Opening in Washington on October 25 and running through March 1, 2026, the show features over 200 works from the 19th century to the present, including 130 of the NGV's most prized pieces by revered artists from across Australia. The title is inspired by late Yolŋu artist Gulumbu Yunupiŋu, known for her celestial mappings, and the exhibition will travel to several U.S. cities and Toronto over two and a half years.

Accessibility through art broadening experiences at expanded Gallery

Newcastle Art Gallery in Australia has unveiled two groundbreaking accessibility commissions: a digital guide named Nancy and architectural-scale sculptures by artist Fayen d'Evie. The digital guide offers a 24-stop tour with audio, Auslan-interpreted video, and written descriptions, developed through a 'by community, for community' model involving d/Deaf consultants, Auslan interpreters, and First Nations consultants. The sculptural solution addresses the gallery's original floating staircases, providing safe navigation for visitors who are blind or have low vision. A panel talk and Auslan-interpreted tour on Saturday will highlight these initiatives.

Art Leven to open new Woolloomooloo gallery featuring First Nations works

Art Leven, formerly known as Cooee Art, has officially opened its new multi-level, purpose-built gallery space in Woolloomooloo, Sydney. The relocation marks a significant new chapter for one of Australia’s oldest fine art galleries dedicated to First Nations artists. The inaugural program features a major solo exhibition of paintings by Pintupi artist Mitjili Napanangka Gibson titled "The Places That Know Us," alongside "Gatherings," a group exhibition of bronze and aluminium sculptures produced in collaboration with Urban Art Projects.

From Micro to Mega, Jon McCormack’s Striking Photos Reveal Nature’s Patterns

Photographer Jon McCormack, who grew up in the Australian Outback and has traveled to all seven continents, has a new book titled "Patterns: Art of the Natural World," forthcoming from Damiani Books. The project emerged during the pandemic when limited travel led him to revisit local spots and develop a patient, attentive approach to capturing nature's hidden harmony and symmetry. The book features 90 images ranging from microscopic crystals to aerial views of flamingos in Kenya, along with text contributions from fellow photographers and conservationists.

Country life as seen in 140 artworks at new gallery exhibition

The Cassino Art Gallery is launching a new exhibition titled "Country Life," featuring over 140 artworks that explore rural existence in New South Wales. Scheduled to coincide with the region's Beef Week celebrations, the show includes a diverse range of entries from local artists and a significant contribution from students through the Youth Creative Project.

Gallery collection on display

The Naracoorte Art Gallery has launched 'ORIGIN', a retrospective exhibition showcasing the foundational pieces of its permanent public collection. The show features acquisitions made between the gallery's founding in 1968 and the early 1980s, including the institution's very first acquisition, a pencil drawing by Robert Walter Felling, alongside significant works by Australian modernists like Mervyn Smith and Judith Heidenreich.

Phillip Island exhibitions start small but it's a big summer

The Phillip Island Contemporary Exhibition Space Inc (PICES) has launched its 2025-26 Summer Art Exhibitions at the Berninneit Art Gallery in Cowes, Australia. The first of three exhibitions, 'Small Works,' features 50 affordable and unique pieces by artists from Bass Coast and beyond, including local painters Joe La Pira and Peter Walker. The program continues with 'Contempora 1' and 'Contempora 2,' showcasing 64 emerging and established artists across various media through February 1, 2026.

Padraig McCaul brings his Christmas art exhibition to Mullingar

Artist Padraig McCaul will hold a 'Christmas Studio Exhibition' at the Mullingar Park Hotel in Mullingar, Ireland, on December 6 and 7. The show features new original oil paintings, limited edition prints, art cards, and wax print hurricane lanterns, offering Christmas gift ideas. This is McCaul's final exhibition of 2025, following a successful show at Art Source in the RDS, Dublin, and solo exhibitions at The Doorway Gallery, Dublin, and Lahinch Art Gallery. McCaul, an award-winning artist based in Mullingar with studios there and in Achill, has exhibited internationally in London, New York, and Australia.