This year has seen a flurry of new activity in Australia’s art scene, with a number of new gallery spaces opening up and relaunching across the country. Here are four you need to check out, from a new Sydney location to an online platform aiming to revolutionise the art market.
Congratulations to Amos Gebhardt, who has won the 2024 National Photographic Portrait Prize for Alexis with moon, a diptych portrait of award-winning First Nations author Alexis Wright.
Laura Jones has become the twelfth woman to win the Archibald Prize for her portrait of writer Tim Winton.
A surrealist legend, a cyber-futurist Chinese artist and a revered painter are showing in Sydney later this year: René Magritte and Cao Fei at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and Julie Mehretu at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
The finalist portraits in the biggest Australian art award of the year have been announced, alongside the winner of The Packing Room Prize: Northern Rivers–based artist Matt Adnate for his portrait of ARIA Award–winning Yolŋu rapper, artist and actor Baker Boy.
Congratulations to Shireen Taweel, who has won the 68th Blake Art Prize for her work Shoe Bathers.
The Biennale of Sydney has announced Hoor Al Qasimi, an esteemed curator and Emirati royalty, as the artistic director of the 2026 Biennale of Sydney.
Kamilaroi/Bigambul artist Archie Moore has won the Golden Lion for Best National Participation at the Venice Biennale for his monumental work, kith and kin. It marks the first time Australia has won the award in the event’s 130-year history.
The National Gallery of Victoria has unveiled their summer blockbuster exhibition for 2024–2025. Yayoi Kusama’s signature polka dots and pumpkins, along with world-premiere work, will appear in Australia’s largest retrospective exhibition of the Japanese artist.
Congratulations to Ellen Dahl, who has won the $30,000 2024 National Photography Prize for her work, Four Days Before Winter, a four-part piece exploring the devastating effects of climate change on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard.
Congratulations to Marikit Santiago, who has won the 2024 La Prairie Art Award for her two works A Seat at the Table (Magulang) and A Seat at the Table (Kapatid).
The 2024 Glover Prize has been announced, with Tasmanian-based artist Nicholas Blowers taking home the $75,000 prize for his painting Lake Bed.
