Art Wrap: 10 Exhibitions To See in Sydney This Spring

Trace the evolution of Magritte’s famous bowler-hatted man, admire a poetic black-and-white film by Sir Isaac Julien, discover Sydney artist Glenn Barkley’s provocative ceramics, and more.

There’s a lot to take in at Sydney’s art galleries and museums this season, including surrealist paintings, colourful pottery with a political message, a digital artwork reimagining a post-colonial museum and haunting photography of nocturnal animals in the bush.

Magritte, AGNSW

Belgian artist René Magritte made groundbreaking contributions to surrealism from the 1920s to the ’60s. His most famous works – such as The listening room (1952) and The lovers (1928) – are currently on display in a major survey of more than 100 of his paintings, sculptures and sketches. It’s organised chronologically, and you can see the artist’s subversive sense of humour and recurring motifs, such as the bowler-hatted man, evolve over decades.
Until February 9, 2025.

Glenn Barkley: Experimental Idiocy, Sullivan & Strumpf

Sydney artist Glenn Barkley presents a new body of quirky, bright and colourful ceramics in his latest solo exhibition. They might seem joyful on the surface, but look closer and you’ll see messages such as “double haters” and “Anglosphere mind virus”. Barkley’s distinctive pieces are vessels for incisive commentary on contemporary society, rather than practical objects. His exhibition runs alongside a solo show by visual artist Lara Merrett.
November 14 to December 14.

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Isaac Julien, Once Again... (Statues Never Die), MCA

British artist Sir Isaac Julien reflects on the relationship between an art collector and philosopher-slash-cultural leader in a poetic black-and-white film shown on five large screens at the MCA. He cast André Holland (Moonlight) and Danny Huston (Succession) in a story that explores Black Modernism, social constructs and cultural heritage. It’s a reflection on African objects held by Western art museums, and a timely statement on the origins of all objects owned by institutions worldwide.
Until February 16, 2025.

Reko Rennie: Urban Rite, Ames Yavuz Gallery

The Kamilaroi artist has a huge survey exhibition in Melbourne right now, Rekospective: The Art of Reko Rennie at the Ian Potter Centre. But in Sydney we get to see a new side to him in an intimate exhibition in Surry Hills. Rennie has painted eight new canvases that reclaim the term “flash black” by showing faceless figures wearing or standing next to items of luxury, such as Rolex watches and sports cars. Some of the faceless figures have Rennie’s distinctive diamond patterning, and all of them represent the possibility for other First Nations people to see themselves in the picture.
Until November 9.

Tamara Henderson, Slug in the Mug, Artspace

The humble earthworm is the star of Canadian-born artist Tamara Henderson’s Slug in the Mug. It’s the artist’s first solo exhibition in an Australian public institution. Henderson decentres the human experience by turning her attention to the industrious earthworm in glass and ceramic sculptures, a sound installation, paintings, textile works and a 16-millimetre film.
Until January 5, 2025.

Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown Arts Centre

The annual art award and exhibition, now in its 62nd year, explores the supernatural, the divine and the spiritual. The award has featured high-profile artists like Justene Williams, Robert Fielding and Angela Tiatia. This year’s finalists include Blak Douglas, Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, Gillian Kayrooz and Shivanjani Lal.
Until December 6.

4A.I.: Elsewhere in India, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art

Two artists at the forefront of India’s electronic music and media art scene – Murthovic and Thiruda, known as Elsewhere in India – have used AI and video gaming to create a virtual museum featuring digital recreations of artefacts from real museums. The exhibition, which includes an extended reality world, explores themes of digital repatriation and the intersection of art, technology and conservation.
Until December 15.

Minyma Kungkarapa, Olsen Gallery

Joining the artworks of two artists, Yaritji Young and Sylvia Ken, this exhibition celebrates life, culture and the Australian desert. Hailing from Tjala Arts – a historic art centre in Amata, South Australia, near the border of the Northern Territory – Young and Ken are from a long lineage of Aboriginal artists. Their colours and motifs are unique to each artist, yet presented together they reveal a shared story, history and connection to Country.
Until November 9.

Unveiling the Night, Artereal

Nicole Welch’s beautifully haunting photographs of nocturnal animals, shot with state-of-the-art infrared cameras, were taken on Wiradjuri Country, in Bathurst. The artist explores the illusion and surrealist aspects of photography, seeking out a voyeuristic perspective, depicting the eerie, ghostly figures of foxes, a herd of deer and a passel of possums.
Until November 16.

Consuelo Cavaniglia, seeing through you, Chau Chak Wing Museum

Consuelo Cavaniglia takes over the Chau Chak Wing Museum with tonal perspex and glass in a way that invites its viewers to see the world differently. Through altering colour, light and perception, Cavaniglia reframes the architecture of the museum and highlights two women artists from the collection, Lily Greenham and Martha Boto.
Until March 23, 2025.

Additional reporting by Emma Joyce.