Alumni Exhibitions
Each year hundreds of exhibitions around the world feature NAS alumni, staff and students, who are also frequently finalists and winners of major art prizes in Australia and overseas. Below is a list of current and upcoming exhibitions. If you would like to add your exhibition please fill in the submission form.
NAS staff and alumni Geoff Kleem, Damian Dillon, David Manley and Carolyn Craig are in the Korea Australia International Photography Exhibition, opening 4 November at Art Space Gotgan, Korea. Exhibition: 31 October – 13 November 2023
NAS alum Elyssa Sykes-Smith is displaying in Space Time Existence at the European Cultural Centre as part of the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023. Exhibition: 20 May – 26 November 2023
NAS alum Ida Lawrence is in a group show BPA// Exhibition 2023 – Amid the Alien Corn, at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin. Exhibition: 25 November 2023 – 7 January 2024
NAS alum Jan Handel is in the 7th Biennale Internationale of Non Objective Art in Potential Project, Athens. Exhibition: 2 – 15 November 2023
Dreyfus Drei, a documentary film by Dr Ella Dreyfus, NAS Head of Public Programs, will screen on 9 November for the Kristallnacht Commemoration, QLD Jewish Board of Deputies, Brisbane; 10 November for Meet the Director at the Brisbane Holocaust Museum; on 17 November for a group of German Military Officers at the Jewish Museum in Creglingen, Germany; and 26 November at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, more information here.
NAS Fellow Mike Parr has a retrospective The Intimate Resistance: Mike Parr’s Performance Work 1971 – 2023, showing at the Bogota Museum of Modern Art in Colombia from June 29 2023, and at Fondazione Morra in Naples, Italy from 29 September 2023
NAS Painting lecturer Rolande Souliere is working on a year-long social art project in Canada with refugees and homeless people in Toronto, as well as mentoring a North American emerging Indigenous artist from Toronto. Her 2016 artwork Mediating the Treaties in Winnipeg will be included as a digital resource for K-12 students in Canada and is part of Indigenous Month on APTN Broadcasting. She is also providing mentorship for the Emerging Indigenous Artist residency program by Griffin Art Projects in Vancouver, Canada.
Congratulations to NAS staff and alum Todd Fuller who won the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award Contemporary Category and Jayanto Tan who received Highly Commended; NAS staff and alum Maryanne Wick who won the Macarthur Award; and NAS alum Nic Fern who was Highly Commended in the Open Category. Also to alumni, staff and students finalists Annabel Butler, Mark Booth, Annette Bukovinsky, Tristan Chant, Carolyn Craig, Nick Collerson, Dean Cross, Sarah Edmondson, Emryn Ingram-Shute, Mel Jhey, Alun Rhys Jones, Nicole Kelly, Stephen Little, Amelia Lynch, Daniel Mudie Cunningham, Johanna Ng, Joe Wilson, Chanelle Collier, Adelle Gociev, Sophie Lampert and Ali Tahayori. Exhibition: 28 October – 8 December 2023
Congratulations to NAS alumni and staff David Horton, Em Ingram Shute, Orest Keywan and Paul Bacon who are exhibiting artists in Sculpture by the Sea Bondi. NAS staff Michael Hill has created an audio tour of highlights. Exhibition: 20 October – 6 November 2023
Congratulations to graduating MFA student Minghua Xiang (Henry) who is a finalist in the Calleen Art Award at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery. Exhibition dates: 8 October to 19 November 2023
NAS alum Amelia Skelton has a solo exhibition Some things last a long time at Nasha Gallery. Exhbiition: 27 October – 11 November 2023
NAS alum Terhi Hakola is in a group show TREE TALES at Chrissie Cotter Gallery opening on 1 November. Exhibition: 2 – 12 November 2023
NAS staff Carolyn Craig, Janet Parker-Smith and alum Esther Neate, Mark Rowden and Mirra Whale are in a group exhibition SYDNEY PRINTMAKERS 2023 at Gallery Lane Cove opening 15 November. Exhibition 8 November – 2 December 2023
Congratulations to NAS alum Anne Zahalka who has won the 2023 Bowness Photography Prize exhibiting at the Museum of Australian Photography. Exhibition: 21 September – 12 November 2023
NAS alum Tania Rollond and Yul Scarf are in a group exhibition SIXTY: The Journal of Australian Ceramics 60th Anniversary. Exhibition: 2 September – 19 November 2023
NAS alum Jeffery Samuels’ work is featured in a retrospective show, The Power of Creativity: My Horizon Line opening at Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative opening on 9 November. Exhibition: 9 November 2023 – 27 January 2024
NAS alum Elizabeth Creixell has a solo show SWARM at Little Yellow Studio Collective. Exhibition: 20 October – 11 November 2023
Congratulations to Ali Anderson who is a finalist in the National Emerging Art Prize, exhibiting at Michael Reid Art Bar. Exhibition: 1 – 13 November 2023
Congratulations to NAS alum Sophie Lampert who is a finalist in the National Capital Art Prize at Aarwun Gallery. Exhibition: 16 September – 8 December 2023
NAS alum Ruth Ju-shih Li has a solo show Florilegium: Distant Memories at ANU in Canberra, China in the World Building. Exhibition: 24 July – 15 December 2023
Congratulations to NAS student Mel Jhey, who is a finalist in the Colin Holden Print Commission at Print Council of Australia. Exhibition 7 December 2023 – January 2024
NAS alum and staff Maryanne Wick and Evan Salmon are part of a group exhibition at Alexandra Sasse Gallery Curator’s Choice: Selected works from the stockroom and studio. Exhibition: 2–18 November 2023
NAS staff and alumni Holly MacDonald, Sassy Park and Ebony Russell are in a group show Rendered curated by NAS alum Alichia Van Rijn at Boom Gallery, Geelong as a Craft Contemporary satellite event. Exhibition: 12 October – 5 November 2023
Congratulations to NAS alum Penny Burnett who has been selected for the Wyndham Art Prize 2023. Exhibition: 17 August – 22 November 2023
Congratulations to NAS alum Gillian Hodes who is a finalist in Siliceous Award for Ceramic Excellence 2023 at Ipswich Community Art Gallery. Exhibition: 13 October – 5 November 2023
NAS Staff Dr Ella Dreyfus’ documentary film Dreyfus Drei will screen on 9 November for the Kristallnacht Commemoration, QLD Jewish Board of Deputies, Brisbane; 10 November for Meet the Director at the Brisbane Holocaust Museum, 17 November for a group of German Military Officers at the Jewish Museum in Creglingen, Germany; and 26 November at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, more information here.
Congratulations to NAS alum Sophie Lampert who has won second prize and student Mel Jhey, who has won highly commended – ceramics, in the Gosford Art Prize, showing at Gosford Regional Gallery. Congratulations also to NAS staff Carolyn Craig and Damian Dillon, alumni Sophie Lampert and Gillian Hodes and student Mel Jhey, who are finalists. Exhibition: 9 September – 5 November 2023
Congratulations to NAS alumni, staff and students Annabel Butler, Mark Booth, Annette Bukovinsky, Tristan Chant, Carolyn Craig, Nick Collerson, Dean Cross, Sarah Edmondson, Nic Fern, Emryn Ingram-Shute, Mel Jhey, Alun Rhys Jones, Nicole Kelly, Stephen Little, Amelia Lynch, Daniel Mudie Cunningham, Johanna Ng, Joe Wilson, Chanelle Collier, Todd Fuller, Adelle Gociev, Sophie Lampert, Jayanto Tan, Ali Tahayori and Maryanne Wick, who are finalists in the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award. Exhibition: 28 October – 8 December 2023
Congratulations to NAS alum Gillian Hodes who is a finalist in the National Emerging Art Prize, showing in Michael Reid Artbar. Exhibition: 1–13 November 2023
Congratulations to NAS staff and alum Evan Salmon, who has been awarded a development grant from the William Fletcher Foundation for 2023.
Cambodian artist Mao Sovanchandy has been at NAS for an artist’s residency, making work for a group exhibition All That Surrounds Us: New art from Cambodia at 16albermarle Project Space Newtown. Exhibition: 7 October – 11 November 2023
NAS alum Elizabeth Creixell has her first solo show SWARM at Little Yellow Studio Gallery. Exhibition: 20 October – 11 November 2023
NAS alum Lorna Grear and student Quinn Chen are in a group exhibition TEXTA at Draw Space Gallery. Exhibition: 5 October – 5 November 2023
NAS alum Elizabeth Creixell has a public art installation titled PLAGUE directly across from Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios, in front of Lane Cove Library. Exhibition: 5 October – 5 November 2023
NAS alum and staff Gary Deirmendjian has a solo exhibition Incidentally So … in the Front Space in the NAS Library. Exhibition: Ongoing from 10 October 2023
Congratulations to NAS alumni Amelia Lynch, Chloe Smith, Kiata Mason, Mirra Whale, Mitch Cairns, Stafford Gafney and NAS Fellow Wendy Sharpe who are finalists in the STILL: National Still Life Art Award 2023 at Yarrila Arts and Museum, Coffs Harbour. Exhibition: 7 October – 3 December 2023
Congratulations to NAS alum Anne Kwasner and staff Rosemary Lee and Tanya Baily who are finalists in the 2023 Hawkesbury Art Prize. Profits from paintings sales will go towards establishing a NAS scholarship.
Congratulations to NAS staff Carolyn Craig and Damian Dillon, NAS alum Sophie Lampert and student Mel Jhey who are finalists in the Gosford Art Prize showing at Gosford Regional Gallery. Exhibition: 9 September – 5 November 2023
Congratulations to NAS alumni and staff Alan Rose, Amelia Skelton, Anita Johnson, Catherine O’Donnell, Jacqueline Bradley, Juz Kitson and Liz Bradshaw who are finalists in the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf. Exhibition: 27 September – 5 November 2023
Congratulations to NAS staff Michelle Hiscock who is a finalist in Flow Contemporary Watercolour Prize, exhibiting at Wollongong Art Gallery. Exhibition: 2 September 2023 – 17 March 2024.
Congratulations to NAS staff Clara Hali who has been commissioned to develop a new public artwork in Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains.
Congratulations to NAS alumna and staff Kirtika Kain who is a featured artist in the 24th Biennale of Sydney: Ten Thousand Suns. Exhibition: 9 March – 10 June 2024 Congratulations to NAS alumni, staff and students Margaret Ackland, Suzanne Archer, M Bozzec, Armando Chant, Cindy Chen, Jacqui Driver, Freya Fristad, Todd Fuller, Phil James, Nicole Kelly, Nicci Haynes, Hyun Hee Lee, Kevin McKay, Stephanie Monteith, Ali Tahayori, Sylvie Verness, Belinda Yee and Mei Zhao who are finalists in the Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award 2023. Exhibition: 16 September – 12 November 2023Congratulations to NAS alumni and staff Gerwyn Davies, Jane Burton, Justine Varga, Jon Setter and Anne Zahalka who are finalists in the Bowness Photography Prize at the Museum of Australian Photography. Exhibition: 21 September – 12 November 2023
NAS alum and staff Ebony Russell is in an exhibition 1001 Remarkable Objects at the Powerhouse Museum. Exhibition: 26 August – 31 December 2023
NAS alum Karla Dickens is in a group show CrownLand at Maitland Regional Art Gallery. Exhibition: 26 August – 5 November 2023
NAS alumni Ken Done and Annalisa Ferraris have a group exhibition at Clayton Utz as part of the Clayton Utz Art Partnership Sydney. Exhibition: 24 November 2022 – November 2023.
Congratulations to NAS alumni Ashlee Bucholtz, Jacqueline Hennessy, India Mark, Sassy Park and Ondine Seabrook, who are finalists in the Portia Geach Memorial Award at S.H Ervin Gallery. Exhibition: 3 November – 17 December 2023
Congratulations to NAS alum Sophie Lampert who is a finalist in the National Capital Art Prize at Aarwun Gallery. Exhibition: 16 September – 8 December 2023
NAS alum Ruth Ju-shih Li has a solo show Florilegium: Distant Memories at ANU in Canberra, China in the World Building. Exhibition: 24 July – 15 December 2023
Congratulations to NAS student Mel Jhey, who is a finalist in the Colin Holden Print Commission at Print Council of Australia. Exhibition 7 December 2023 – January 2024
NAS alum and staff Maryanne Wick and Evan Salmon are part of a group exhibition at Alexandra Sasse Gallery Curator’s Choice: Selected works from the stockroom and studio. Exhibition: 2–18 November 2023
NAS staff and alumni Holly MacDonald, Sassy Park and Ebony Russell are in a group show Rendered curated by NAS alum Alichia Van Rijn at Boom Gallery, Geelong as a Craft Contemporary satellite event. Exhibition: 12 October – 5 November 2023
Congratulations to NAS alum Penny Burnett who has been selected for the Wyndham Art Prize 2023. Exhibition: 17 August – 22 November 2023
NAS alum Gabrielle Jones’ work In the beginning has been featured on the cover of Amber Creswell Bell’s Abstract Painting book, published by Thames and Hudson
Congratulations to NAS alum Gillian Hodes who is a finalist in Siliceous Award for Ceramic Excellence 2023 at Ipswich Community Art Gallery. Exhibition: 13 October – 5 November 2023
NAS staff and alum Sassy Park is in an exhibition Clay: Collected Ceramics at the Museum of Brisbane. Exhibition: 13 May – October 2023
NAS staff Carolyn Craig and Justine Youssef are in a group show Situated at Sawtooth Gallery in Launceston. Exhibition: Opens 8 September 2023
When the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize winner Rosemary Lee (@cooldog94) visited the Prize exhibition in 2021, she made a personal commitment to enter every year. Watch our interview with Rosemary to find out more about the inspiration behind her artwork.
The Dobell Prize exhibition is now open until Saturday 21 June 2025. Free admission, all welcome.
May 10
We are proud to share that National Art School alum Gene A`Hern (@gene_ahern) is the winner of the Sir John Sulman Prize 2025 for his work ‘Sky painting’. Congratulations to other prize winners Julie Fragar (the Archibald Prize 2025) and Jude Rae (the Wynne Prize 2025).
See A`Hern`s work exhibited alongside the other winners and finalists in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2025 exhibition at @artgalleryofnsw, opening Saturday 10 May.
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Sulman Prize 2025 winner, Gene A`Hern, ‘Sky painting’, oil and oil stick on board, 240 x 240 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio; Wynne Prize 2025 winner, Jude Rae, ‘Pre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminal’, oil on linen, 200 x 150.4 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio; Archibald Prize 2025 winner, Julie Fragar, ‘Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene)’, oil on canvas, 240 x 180.4 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
May 9
“unexpectedly riveting”
“park all your preconceptions at the door”
“this exhibition challenges the idea of what a drawing is”
Some soundbites from Edwina Throsby’s interview with Chris Bath on ABC Drive’s ‘Critics Panel’ where she spoke about the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize. Listen to the interview at the link in bio and see for yourself at NAS Gallery, 11am – 5pm Monday to Saturday. Free admission, all welcome.
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Opening night of the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025, image courtesy and © the artists and National Art School, photograph: Nicole Anderson
May 9
Join us for the launch of NAS Staff Gary Deirmendjian’s new book ‘Common Ground’
Tuesday 13 May 2025
6 — 7.30pm
National Art School, The Margaret Olley Building [AKA The Chapel]
For catering purposes please RSVP by Friday 9 May 2025 to: [email protected]
May 7
Looking for exhibitions to view this weekend? Here are some current exhibitions with National Art School staff and alumni:
1) NAS Alum Mitch Cairns has a solo exhibition ‘Restless Legs` at @artgalleryofnsw until 9 June 2025. Books, chimneys and a lyre are among the motifs featured in this electric show.
2) Former NAS Head of Postgraduate Studies Ian Greig opens his solo exhibition ‘Within the Light of Thing’ at @arthousegallery this Saturday 3 May. Join Ian for his Artist Talk at 2pm to learn more about his new stylistic development.
3) NAS Head of Painting Stephen Little has a solo exhibition ‘The Harbinger Suite: Reliquaries‘ at @maiswright.gallery. The exhibition continues until 3 May 2025.
4) NAS Painting Lecturer Gemma Smith is displaying ‘Compression dissolve’ in The Intelligence of Painting exhibition at @mca_australia until 20 July 2025. ‘The Intelligence of Painting’ presents paintings from 14 Australian women artists of multiple generations.
Image credit 1: Mitch Cairns ‘9–5’ 2024, oil on linen, 124.5 x 104.5 cm, collection of the artist © Mitch Cairns, courtesy The Commercial, Sydney, photo: The Commercial
Image credit 2: Ian Greig ‘Bundjalung Country’ 2025, oil on linen, 168 x 168 cm. Courtesy the artist and the Arthouse Gallery © the artist
Image credit 3: Stephen Little, installation view of ‘The Harbinger Suite: Reliquaries’, 2025. Courtesy the artist and MAIS WRIGHT © the artist, photograph: Robin Hearfield
Image credit 4: Gemma Smith, Compression dissolve, 2024, installation view The Intelligence of Painting, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 2025, acrylic on canvas, courtesy the artist and Sullivan + Strumpf © the artist, photograph: Hamish McIntosh
May 1
We are pleased to announce two international residency opportunities for our alumni and staff community for 2026: The Onslow Storrier NAS Residency La Cité Internationale Des Arts, Paris and The British School at Rome.
These residencies offer a unique chance to immerse yourself in the vibrant art scenes of two iconic European cities, Paris and Rome, and further develop your artistic practice in an enriching cultural environment.
Application Deadline: Sunday 29 June 2025
Learn more and apply at the link in bio.
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Sophia Lee Georgas BSR Open Studio, 2023, image courtesy and © The British School at Rome; Harry de Vries BSR Open Studio, 2024, image courtesy and © The British School at Rome
Apr 28
