10 February 2015

A strong focus on contemporary Asian art, photography and Indigenous Australian art ushers in 2015 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, with the collection forming the cornerstone of the Gallery experience.

Gallery Director Michael Brand said: ‘This will surely be a landmark year for the Gallery. 2015 presents a diverse exhibition program that offers an inspiring art experience to a broad audience. Most notably, our collection is going from strength to strength with new acquisitions, and continues to be supported by excellence in scholarship. Visitors can look forward to seeing more of the collection on display, alongside a series of exciting international exhibitions. Over the coming months, there will also be key developments with our Sydney Modern Project that will transform the Gallery into a 21st-century art museum.’

In May the Gallery’s collection of contemporary and modern art will once again occupy lower level two. Bringing great energy with an array of exciting new acquisitions, exhibitions include a refreshed display of the John Kaldor Family Collection, the provocative See you at the barricades and the playful Colourwheel which has been curated with younger visitors in mind.

A particular highlight will be the debut presentation of the important new acquisition Jazz (1947) by Henri Matisse in the exhibition Matisse and the moderns. Arguably one of the most beloved artworks of the 20th century, Jazz communicates an exceptional sense of joy and freedom. It will be on display with a selection of related paintings and works on paper by other major European modernist artists drawn from the Gallery’s collection.

The refurbished Australian galleries will also reopen in April, showcasing a number of the Gallery’s latest acquisitions, which will be announced in April, as well as Mad through the darkness: Australian artists and the Great War (25 Apr – 9 Oct), which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.

2015 also sees the Gallery continue its commitment to the art of our region, with exhibitions showcasing work from some of Asia’s most dynamic artists. Bringing together Asian art of the past and present, Conversations through the Asian collections (until 2016) will change to feature new pairings of works, including an impressive selection of works by Chinese painter Zhang Xiaogang.

Not to be missed is Go east: the Gene and Brian Sherman Collection of contemporary Asian art (14 May – 26 Jul). The Gallery is delighted to partner with Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation and display a stunning selection of works from the collection of contemporary Asian art held by Australian philanthropists Gene and Brian Sherman. This exhibition marks a major new undertaking for the Shermans who have never before given such broad access to their collection. As part of Go east, Yang Zhichao’s Chinese Bible (2005-08) will be shown at the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, Sydney.

The highly anticipated The photograph and Australia (21 Mar – 8 Jun) will present photographs from more than 120 artists, sourced from more than 35 private and public collections across Australia, England and New Zealand. The photograph and Australia reflects an evolving image of Australia from the 1840s until today, exploring how photography was harnessed to create the idea of a nation.

A further three exhibitions will celebrate female photographers, including contemporary photography exhibitions Loud! (25 Apr – 5 Jul) and Rosemary Laing (11 Jul – 20 Sep). The Gallery is also proudly hosting Julia Margaret Cameron: works from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (14 Aug – 25 Oct). This exhibition features more than 100 photographs from the 1860s-70s that trace Cameron’s early ambitions as an amateur photographer through to her later experiments as a renowned innovator.

The Gallery is also pleased to present Ronnie Tjampitjinpa (4 Apr – 1 Nov), an exceptional solo exhibition of the work of this Pintupi artist, celebrating his 40-year career. A founder of the hugely influential Papunya Tula Artists, Tjampitjinpa was one of the youngest of the group of men who began painting at Papunya in 1971.

Exploring the complex knowledge Indigenous people have of water, Our spirits lie in the water (until 1 Nov) features a diverse selection of works drawn from the Gallery’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection. Highlights include works by Cornelia Tipuamantumirri, Rusty Peters and Nonggirrnga Marawili.

The Gallery’s popular annual exhibitions continue with ARTEXPRESS 2015 (12 Feb – 19 Apr), featuring a selection of outstanding student artworks developed for the NSW Higher School Certificate examination in Visual Arts 2014. One of Australia’s most anticipated art events, the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes will be on display for its 94th year (18 Jul – 27 Sep).

An important part of the Gallery is the Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Studio will host a rich year-round schedule of public programs and exhibitions focusing on Whiteley’s travel, influences and sculptures.

Later in 2015 will see the return of the Sydney International Art Series, with a major exhibition of Western masterpieces. Further details will be announced soon.

Exhibition titles and dates are subject to change.

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