The Australian collection here includes almost 19,000 pieces ranging from paintings and decorative arts to modern photography, pop art, and screen-printing. The Yiribana Gallery is renowned for some of the best permanent and rotating exhibits of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in the world. Every Wednesday evening, the museum hosts Art After Hours, an inspiring night of workshops, talks, and live entertainment that lasts until 10pm. Once you’ve finished exploring the galleries, duck behind the museum outside to find Brett Whiteley’s whimsical Almost Once, a sculpture of two massive matchsticks, one burnt out, the other waiting to be ignited. In 2017, the New South Wales government committed $244 million to help transform the gallery into an expanded future museum called the Sydney Modern, slated to open in 2021.
*** Local Caption *** These galleries are where Australian paintings and sculpture from the 19th century and pre-modernist works from the early 20th century are displayed. Itís where you will find paintings by artists such as John Glover, WC Piguenit, Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton and Frederick McCubbin, and sculptures by Bertram Mackennal.
Art Gallery of New South Wales
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Amazing Aboriginal Art Collection
The Art Gallery of New South Wales is a stunningly beautiful gallery which houses an impressive collection of Australian indigenous art, as well as contemporary works from some of Australia‘s most celebrated artists. Definitely don’t miss the Yiribana collection on the lower level.
Art Makes You SmArt
We pit stopped at the Art Gallery of New South Wales along the way to the Royal Botanical Gardens. It was a cultural and fulfilling way to spend the afternoon, not to mention, kill time. Although there was no particular exhibit that captured us that day, we became reacquainted with Renaissance art and sculpture, feeling all the better for having done so. The museum is not just a gallery of art, but an institution offering lectures, films, presentations, concerts and performances. The gallery collections are extensive and include Western, Australian, Aboriginal, Pacific and Contemporary art.
