Broadsheet: From Gaol to Artistic Education: A New Exhibition at the National Art School Celebrates the Site’s Rich History

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Broadsheet: From Gaol to Artistic Education: A New Exhibition at the National Art School Celebrates the Site’s Rich History

by Danielle Neely

By Jane Albert

The former Darlinghurst Gaol has plenty of stories to tell, from murderous bushrangers and famous poets to Archibald-winning artists. This new exhibition reveals the ghosts of the past, and celebrates 100 years of artistic prestige.

Since 1922 it has been art students, not inmates, who have wandered the evocative, historic sandstone campus. A new exhibition, Captivate: The National Art School and Darlinghurst Gaol, explores the site’s rich history – from its decades as a place of corporal punishment, to its transformation over the past century into the prestigious art school that gave us artists including Margaret Olley, Robert Klippel, Tony Tuckson, Fiona Hall and Joan Ross, and boasted teachers such as William Dobell.

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The Postgrad Show 2025 closes this Sunday 16 November.

Visit in person at NAS Galleries or online at the link in bio.

—
Installation photography: Peter Morgan

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Nov 14

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The Postgrad Show 2025 closes this Sunday 16 November.

Visit in person at NAS Galleries or online at the link in bio.

—
Installation photography: Peter Morgan

Introducing Jasmine Greenwood, Bethany Hardidge, Paige Hottwagner, and Mel Jhey, four of our graduating students in Ceramics.

Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 4 December.

RSVP link in bio.

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Jasmine Greenwood, `From Frida, 2025`, buff raku earthenware saggar fired with rock salt, steel scourer, eggshell, seaweed, onion skin, oyster shell, coconut fibre, avocado, garlic peel, coffee ground, hair, banana skins, approx. 30 x 26 x 14 cm

Bethany Hardidge, `Oh Em Gee`, earthenware paper clay, underglaze, 7 x 30 x 17 cm

Paige Hottwagner, `Morphogene`, glaze on stoneware paper clay, 21 x 18 x 18 cm

Mel Jhey, `Big Mouth`, stoneware, glaze, 77 x 18 x 21 cm

Portrait: @soybased_snack
Documentation: Peter Morgan

@jasmine.greenwood
@beths.artstuff
@paigeceramics_25
@meljheyart

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Nov 13

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Introducing Jasmine Greenwood, Bethany Hardidge, Paige Hottwagner, and Mel Jhey, four of our graduating students in Ceramics.

Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 4 December.

RSVP link in bio.

—
Jasmine Greenwood, 'From Frida, 2025', buff raku earthenware saggar fired with rock salt, steel scourer, eggshell, seaweed, onion skin, oyster shell, coconut fibre, avocado, garlic peel, coffee ground, hair, banana skins, approx. 30 x 26 x 14 cm

Bethany Hardidge, 'Oh Em Gee', earthenware paper clay, underglaze, 7 x 30 x 17 cm

Paige Hottwagner, 'Morphogene', glaze on stoneware paper clay, 21 x 18 x 18 cm

Mel Jhey, 'Big Mouth', stoneware, glaze, 77 x 18 x 21 cm

Portrait: @soybased_snack
Documentation: Peter Morgan

@jasmine.greenwood
@beths.artstuff
@paigeceramics_25
@meljheyart

Introducing Cristelle Cabrera and Caitlin Galvez, two of our graduating students in Ceramics.

Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 4 December.

RSVP link in bio.

—
Cristelle Cabrera, `Vengo a darte un abrazo, pero amam waqachiwankicho!/ I come to give you a hug, but don’t make me cry!`, terracotta clay with underglaze, glaze and cotton string, 126 x 50 x 36 cm

Caitlin Galvez, `Don’t mess with the Yakult`, unglazed porcelain, 31 x 20 cm

Portrait: @soybased_snack
Documentation: Peter Morgan

@crissygunieart
@caity_gal

View Instagram post by nas_au

Nov 13

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Introducing Cristelle Cabrera and Caitlin Galvez, two of our graduating students in Ceramics.

Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 4 December.

RSVP link in bio.

—
Cristelle Cabrera, 'Vengo a darte un abrazo, pero amam waqachiwankicho!/ I come to give you a hug, but don’t make me cry!', terracotta clay with underglaze, glaze and cotton string, 126 x 50 x 36 cm

Caitlin Galvez, 'Don’t mess with the Yakult', unglazed porcelain, 31 x 20 cm

Portrait: @soybased_snack
Documentation: Peter Morgan

@crissygunieart
@caity_gal

The National Art School is proud to present The Grad Show, our major end-of-year exhibition showcasing the work of the 2025 Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) graduate students.

Join us for the opening night on Thursday 4 December.

RSVP link in bio.

The Grad Show
5–14 December 2025

View Instagram post by nas_au

Nov 12

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The National Art School is proud to present The Grad Show, our major end-of-year exhibition showcasing the work of the 2025 Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) graduate students.

Join us for the opening night on Thursday 4 December.

RSVP link in bio.

The Grad Show
5–14 December 2025

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate our 2025 cohort at last night`s opening of The Postgrad Show.

The Postgrad Show is now on view across the NAS campus until 16 November.

Learn more and visit the online exhibition at the link in bio.

View Instagram post by nas_au

Nov 7

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Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate our 2025 cohort at last night's opening of The Postgrad Show.

The Postgrad Show is now on view across the NAS campus until 16 November.

Learn more and visit the online exhibition at the link in bio.

Opening tonight, The Postgrad Show.

Join us from 6–10pm to celebrate the work of our graduating Master of Fine Art (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Art (DFA) students, exhibited throughout the NAS campus.

RSVP link in bio.

View Instagram post by nas_au

Nov 6

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Opening tonight, The Postgrad Show.

Join us from 6–10pm to celebrate the work of our graduating Master of Fine Art (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Art (DFA) students, exhibited throughout the NAS campus.

RSVP link in bio.