It was Saturday 28th March 2026 when we made that pleasurable trip across town to Gibson’s Auctions to see the latest offering of photographs, paintings and prints. Some of these auction exhibition are great opportunities to see works that may disappeared again into private hands.
The best way to start a set of comments on this exhibition Familial staged by Melbourne’s Centre for Contemporary Photography (the CCP) is to make the recommendation that you should see this exhibition – and that it is open till 25th April (closed on Sundays).
One of the artists exhibiting 14th Feb – 25th April 2026 with the Centre for Contemporary Photography (Melbourne) is (Annie) Hsiao-Ching Wang with her wonderful exhibition My Son and I at the Same Height (2002–2024). The work involved taking portraits of herself and her son every year from 2002.
Last year Gallery 275 launched an exhibition of eight Heidelberg School paintings, borrowed from the National Gallery of Australia (Canberra). The gallery is the Banyule Council gallery in the Ivanhoe library and cultural hub – in Melbourne. The eights works were generously spaced around the walls.
time to celebrate with a message from Waldemar Januszczak
The State Library of New South Wales has mounted an exhibition and produced a catalogue for an exhibition of photographs dating back to PIX magazine 1938 – 1972. Continue reading PIX: The Magazine that Changed Everything (1938–1972)
With the opening of National Gallery of Victoria’s photography exhibition, open till 3rd May 2026, comes this review. There are many other online articles but most are simply rehashing the media releases.
The National Gallery of Victoria’s photography exhibition, open till 3rd May 2026, is a highly recommended – must see – exhibition. We visited yesterday, Tuesday 9th December, and made our way through slowly. People were taking their time to take in images and to enjoy the experience.
We visited Rod McNicol in mid September; he died at home on 8th October.
Gael has a post about our visit – click here
the joys of being in Melbourne; many local government arts centres
Bundoora Arts – click here
Broken Dreams” 2018 , a beautiful hand coloured black and white photograph by artist/ photographer Viki Petherbridge. We saw this today at Magnet Galleries Melbourne’s exhibition – The Prahran Legacy – Beyond The Basement
This is a must-see exhibition from the collections of John and Peter Perry that beautifully highlight the works and influences of Max Meldrum (1875–1955).
We wandered into the Whitehorse Artspace (Box Hill Town Hall) to see some artworks that were recommended plus to simply look the place over. We were impressed with the latter and as a bonus saw this artwork by Martin King. Loved it!
Last Saturday (1st March 2024) the Museum of Australian Photography staged a very crowded (that is well attended) exhibition opening of the photography of students of Prahran College (in Melbourne) with works dating from 1968-1981.
Continue reading Exhibition of photography from Prahran College
Today we ventured into Collingwood to see the first exhibition at the new CCP project space. They now occupy a room on the second floor at the back of the complex of the building above – The Collingwood Yards. (the photo above borrowed from their web site).
We had things to do at the NGV, so arrived early to allow about an hour to take in the rehang of a couple of the galleries – in particular the 19th Century European.
An overcast Friday in Melbourne and a good time to visit Heide Museum of Modern Art.
On Friday 20th September we drove over to Hawthorn (Melbourne) to view the Leonard Joel Auction’s exhibition of women’s art that was open for viewing that weekend. An excellent experience. It was so good, we returned on Saturday for another look around.
This piece is about an exhibition that closed 28th July 2024. Cutting Through Time—Cressida Campbell, Margaret Preston, and the Japanese Print
An opinion Piece about exhibitions, the visual arts, and things.
Our major public galleries now promote their special exhibition/ blockbusters to such an extent that people often overlook what else is on offer. Normally there are fantastic collection and other special exhibitions on offer.
On exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) till 22 Sept 2024 is a beautifully curated exhibition of two fantastic painters who were pivotal in the development of Australian abstract art. This is a must see – even for those of us who are photographers.
My rating for this exhibition is 😎 😎 😎 😎 😎 (out of 5).
A visit to the galleries and gardens at the Heide Museum of Modern Art remains a recommendation for anyone in Melbourne. The gallery is 30 minutes (more or less) from the CBD and is definitely worth the visit.
In my spare time , I have put together a collection of early 20th century photographs from Japan – click here to see the collection (for sale)
This piece was originally uploaded in May 2023
Back in 1982, when the construction of the National Gallery’s building was completed and had been handed over to become operational as a gallery, there was an open day for people to see what there was to see – that being lots of empty spaces.
This piece was originally uploaded in June 2023.
Before you wonder what the image above is about – it is a digitally altered photograph of the National Gallery of Australia here in Canberra. I’ll explain later in this piece.
Continue reading A wonderful art gallery with a not so great café
This piece was originally published in January 2023
Viewing John Glover (the two in centre) at the AGNSW:
Continue reading New art, old art and a new book on John Glover
This was published originally in August 2022
It was a recent photography exhibition by Catherine Rogers (closed 14th August) that brought home to me what a great space the ANU Drill Hall Gallery is.
Developers love putting up their signs of things to come that will make life better for future residents.
The National Library of Australia forecourt should be a well-designed open space welcoming people to a key national institution. It is, sort of – but not quite!
Continue reading The National Library trees and sculpture festival
Viewfinder: Photography from the 1970s to Now
National Library of Australia exhibition, Friday 16 September 2022 until Monday 13 March 2023 Entry is free, curated by Matthew Jones
a link to the NLA page on the exhibition – click here
a tour of the exhibition click here
More than three decades ago the local visual arts community advocated for the establishment of a Canberra Regional/City Gallery. Continue reading visiting Canberra’s City Gallery
When the national Gallery opened in 1988, the exhibitions and their café became frequent destinations – a meeting place for locals, to take in the latest exhibitions while seeing old friends – the fabulous works in the permanent collections. Continue reading Visiting the National Gallery in Canberra
There were few people visiting the NGA’s Sculpture Garden when I visited to enjoy the garden’s well-designed spaces and to check out the artworks.
There was news in May that a new supermarket is to open in Canberra. Harris Farm Markets are to build a new store at Majura Park on the northern end of the site occasionally used by the circus. Continue reading Supermarkets, galleries and Italian food
It was stunning to see the images of Premier Dominic Perrottet after NSW opened up on October 11; he welcomed people back to his version of normal – that of blokes, pubs, beers and more blokes. Women were absent.
With the ACT Labor/Greens coalition in place until October 2024, it’s a good time to start reporting on how it’s performing.
In 2015, the now disbanded Land Development Agency announced the follow up to its 2011 master plan with the go-ahead for the Kingston Arts Precinct.
There’s a lot to be seen at the exhibitions at the National Gallery of Australia this summer – so it’s time to get thee hence – – –click here.
Walking in on an artist’s install of their exhibition can be an interesting way to learn more about an artist and their work.
the Rijksmuseum is presenting a major retrospective of 19th-century photography – click here
click here for my review and comments on Tracey Moffatt’s exhibition at the 2017 Venice Biennale.
Exhibition of Regis Lansac’s photographs at Janet Clayton Gallery:
3-28 May 2017 – click here for more on the-ARTMUSEum.com
To link to a review of The National at the Art Gallery of NSW – click here.
Back in 1996, Philip Bentley, Melbourne historian, wrote a thesis on the history of the Melbourne photographers, Group M.
George Bell (1920 – 2008) was member of Group M – in Melbourne.
This is an exhibition at photoaccess (Canberra) curated by Ashley Lumb and Laura McLean.
Celebrating with visual art and music
click on image for more….
click on the image for the website – Women Photograph
click on the image for the story of how art galleries could make a stand against the Trump actions on equity and immigration.
Julianne Schultz, Griffith University (This has been reprinted from The Conversation)
The visual arts in Canberra is a very active scene. It has been thus for several decades.
Usually at this time of the year, I am looking forward to the coming visual arts exhibitions at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA).
Continue reading Versailles at the NGA–a summer of glitz, cake and unsettled staff
For many years tourists regarded Singapore as a stop over to somewhere else. Most spent a night or three but rarely much more.
click on image for the story in The Guardian
click on image for more on this public art festival
How does the weather affect us?
Have a look at the photograph above – taken from the Canberra Times.
More news about Canberra’s new public art festival – to run Friday 21st October to Sunday 13th November 2016. Continue reading contour 556
weird things can happen within the art world – as in all aspect of life.
The art work by Annie Trevillian plus others..
Here’s a review that points to the great work being done by artists working within Megalo – a Canberra based open access print workshop. Click here.
One day soon I must tell my version of Megalo when I worked for the organisation as it was then from 1986 to 1991.
Why arts schools matter, not just for art’s sake but for urban renewal in Sydney and other cities
click on the image for the story about the exhibition of William Eggleston
click on the image for more…
click on banner for this post on The Arts Museum
Click on image for the story of the lack of public statues depicting women in the UK.
Beauty In This is a wonderful photography exhibition, by Maryanne Voyazis, on for a short time at Nishi Gallery, New Acton.
Continue reading Photography at Nishi Gallery – Beauty In This
There’s something going in within photography – there’s something going within many of the centres and galleries devoted to photography.
Article and essays about the arts have become threatened species given the downturn in the newspapers.
The number of arts writers has continuously being reduced. So it is wonderful that a few survive.
There’s a wonderful exhibition at the NGA till 30th October 2016 – Diane Arbus: American portraits.
Exhibition Review: Home, 2 June – 20 June 2016
First a positive note – full marks to the ACT Government for their efforts to achieve direct flights between Canberra and the cities of Wellington and Singapore.
Continue reading Arts exchange with Singapore and Wellington
click on the image for the new 2016 series, Stardust, by Anna Carey.
contour 556 is Canberra’s new public art festival to be staged from Friday 21st October to Sunday 13th November, 2016
Continue reading contour 556 – Canberra’s new public art festival
Last Friday 13th May was sad day, and very much a black Friday, for many in the arts across Australia.
click on the image for the story from the New York Times
click – here – for information about this poster project
There’s an announcement for a new biennale of Australian contemporary art. Good news – click on the image for The Guardian story – but..
While some people may enjoy the buzz of living within densely population metropolitan cities, there are definite benefits to being in Canberra and being able to head out into the country in a few minutes, rather than struggling down the crowded toll ways.
click on image for the link to the Daily Telegraph
Click on image for the exhibition details at China In The World (ANU)
The frustration of reading visual arts reviews is that many reviewers no longer express opinions.
Imprint – photography and the impressionable image.
Art Gallery of NSW till 18 May 2016
Modernists: highlights from the European collection, till 25 April 2016
click on image above for the story about this very successful new national gallery.
Advance notice for a Canberra Public Art Festival for later in 2016.
Contour 556 is to be a three-week public art festival in Canberra 21 October – 13 November 2016 on the foreshores of Lake Burley Griffin (and other locations). Continue reading Public Art Festival – Contour 556
When reading the latest thought bubbles from the property lobby, it was difficult to avoid laughing out loud. In their quest to improve Civic business activity, the Civic property lobby has recommended that the ACT Government should hand over money to assist in the refurbishment of the Melbourne and Sydney buildings.
Helen Levitt at Laurence Miller
Reminder of this recommended exhibition at the NGA – click on the photo above.
A new exhibition about the Australian beach – this one contains paintings and a fine mix of photographs. (click on the image above for more images)
In amongst the many changes across the National Gallery of Australia has been the opening up of a new exhibition of photographs from their own collection.
The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) has launched a major Tom Roberts exhibition.
Continue reading Highly recommended – Tom Roberts at the NGA
