Justine Roche

On Stillness

Justine Roche

2020-07-14

by Danielle Neely

Justine Roche’s work explores early photographic processes such as the wet collodion process or ‘tintype’ photography. She is drawn to this medium for its unpredictability and timeless aesthetic. Here / Now (2019) comprises 65 portraits of female art students who graduated from the National Art School in 2019.

Each image is directly exposed onto a metal plate and Roche’s sitters must hold a still expression while the photographic alchemy occurs. The result is ‘unique and inimitable’ writes Roche, ‘there are no negatives, no digital prints, no second chances’.

Images: Justine Roche, Here / Now, 2019, tintypes, 120 x 190 cm (overall); 10.16 x 12.7 cm (each), National Art School Collection, purchased 2019 © the artist

Now open in Building 25 Project Space — Liz Bradshaw `I didn`t expect to live this long`.

For this year`s Queer Contemporary, NAS alum Liz Bradshaw presents an exhibition of large-scale sculpture and installation works that offer a personal and political queering of time, space, materiality, and ideas. Integrating new works alongside a fragment of an artwork created at NAS in the 1990s, the installation folds together the artist`s personal experiences with the complex histories of the school`s site and the broader Darlinghurst area, which served as an epicentre of Australian queer history.

On view until 7 March. Monday to Saturday, 11am–5pm.

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Installation view: Zan Wimberley

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Feb 13

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Now open in Building 25 Project Space — Liz Bradshaw 'I didn't expect to live this long'.

For this year's Queer Contemporary, NAS alum Liz Bradshaw presents an exhibition of large-scale sculpture and installation works that offer a personal and political queering of time, space, materiality, and ideas. Integrating new works alongside a fragment of an artwork created at NAS in the 1990s, the installation folds together the artist's personal experiences with the complex histories of the school's site and the broader Darlinghurst area, which served as an epicentre of Australian queer history.

On view until 7 March. Monday to Saturday, 11am–5pm.

—
Installation view: Zan Wimberley

Students: spaces are still available in Drawing Week 2026 workshops!

These free 4-day workshops run the week before classes commence and are exclusively for students entering their 2nd and 3rd year of the BFA at NAS.

Select from one of 12 distinct focus areas and start the year with a full immersion in the process of making, looking at and thinking about drawing.

Learn more 🔗 in bio.

—
Photos: Peter Morgan

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Feb 10

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Students: spaces are still available in Drawing Week 2026 workshops!

These free 4-day workshops run the week before classes commence and are exclusively for students entering their 2nd and 3rd year of the BFA at NAS.

Select from one of 12 distinct focus areas and start the year with a full immersion in the process of making, looking at and thinking about drawing.

Learn more 🔗 in bio.

—
Photos: Peter Morgan

Featured in the @sydneymorningherald`s Spectrum — SEARCHERS: Graffiti and Contemporary Art.

Co-curator @fionalowry shares, “Graffiti doesn’t so much ‘lose value’ in the gallery as shift value. On the street, it holds power through risk, speed, territory and peer recognition. In the gallery, different things become visible: form, discipline, lineage and the deep relationship to authorship and mark-making. Part of what the exhibition tries to do is hold those two value systems in tension rather than pretend one replaces the other.”

SEARCHERS continues at the National Art School Gallery until April 11. Open Monday to Saturday, 11am–5pm.

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Installation views: Zan Wimberley

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Feb 9

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Featured in the @sydneymorningherald's Spectrum — SEARCHERS: Graffiti and Contemporary Art.

Co-curator @fionalowry shares, “Graffiti doesn’t so much ‘lose value’ in the gallery as shift value. On the street, it holds power through risk, speed, territory and peer recognition. In the gallery, different things become visible: form, discipline, lineage and the deep relationship to authorship and mark-making. Part of what the exhibition tries to do is hold those two value systems in tension rather than pretend one replaces the other.”

SEARCHERS continues at the National Art School Gallery until April 11. Open Monday to Saturday, 11am–5pm.

—
Installation views: Zan Wimberley

Work at the National Art School!

We`re recruiting a Head of Postgraduate Studies to lead and shape our postgraduate programs, including BFA (Hons), MFA and DFA.

Applications close Sunday 8 March 2026, 5pm.

Learn more 🔗 in bio.

—
The Postgrad Show, 2025, photos: Peter Morgan

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Feb 6

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Work at the National Art School!

We're recruiting a Head of Postgraduate Studies to lead and shape our postgraduate programs, including BFA (Hons), MFA and DFA.

Applications close Sunday 8 March 2026, 5pm.

Learn more 🔗 in bio.

—
The Postgrad Show, 2025, photos: Peter Morgan

Opening 12 February — Queer Contemporary, as part of @sydneymardigras

This year`s edition presents `Liz Bradshaw: I didn`t expect to live this long` — an exhibition of large-scale sculpture and installation works that offer a personal and political queering of time, space, materiality, and idea — with student exhibitions organised by Jack Oliver Owen and nikita lelu.

Join us for the opening night on Thursday 12 February, from 6–9pm.

RSVP 🔗 in bio.

—
Liz Bradshaw, `Two Pair`, 2023

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Feb 1

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Opening 12 February — Queer Contemporary, as part of @sydneymardigras

This year's edition presents 'Liz Bradshaw: I didn't expect to live this long' — an exhibition of large-scale sculpture and installation works that offer a personal and political queering of time, space, materiality, and idea — with student exhibitions organised by Jack Oliver Owen and nikita lelu.

Join us for the opening night on Thursday 12 February, from 6–9pm.

RSVP 🔗 in bio.

—
Liz Bradshaw, 'Two Pair', 2023

The National Art School acknowledges that for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and for many other Australians, January 26 is a day of sorrow — marking deep loss, as well as survival.

Across Australia today, communities are coming together to reflect, connect and mark the day respectfully. The National Art School is committed to listening, learning and moving forward together.

For information about events visit antar.org.au and https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/australia-day-sydney

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Jan 26

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Justine Roche

Justine Roche

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Acknowledgement

THE NATIONAL ART SCHOOL ACKNOWLEDGES THE GADIGAL PEOPLES OF THE EORA NATIONS, THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS ON WHOSE LANDS, WATER AND SKIES WE MEET AND SHARE.

WE PAY OUR RESPECTS TO ALL GADIGAL ELDERS, PAST AND PRESENT, AND CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY, HISTORY AND CREATIVITY OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLES.

Justine Roche

Justine Roche

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Acknowledgement