Queer Words That Changed My Life

Queer Words That Changed My Life

LOCATION: Cell Block Theatre
DATE: Friday 21 February
TIME: Doors open at 6.30pm for 7pm start
TICKETS: $30/25

Spend an evening in our indulgent queer salon at NAS, surrounded by a family of queer orators who will delight you with short readings from their most treasured pieces of queer literature and words that changed their life.

Hear from our courageous 78ers and a host of queer celebrities, identities, advocates, heroes, young voices and our newest talents.

Sip champagne and enjoy an array of sweet and savoury delights as we turn pages and invoke the literary history of queer storytelling. Join us in celebrating words that matter.

Artist line-up

  • Dennis Altman
  • William Yang
  • Tommy Murphy
  • Alana Valentine
  • Bill (William) Bowtell
  • Vicki Harding
  • Nana Miss Koori
  • Mama Alto

and more to be announced soon.

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What's happening at the National Art School on 6 September? RSVP to our Open Day today to find out. (Link in bio)
Hear artist James Nguyen (@jamesnguyens) discuss the process of his artwork ‘Homeopathies_where new trees grow’ (2025), a site-specific installation created for The Neighbour at the Gate, now on at NAS Gallery.

In response to the exhibition, Nguyen created a large-scale suspended textile, dyed with introduced weeds and contaminated mud collected along the Duck River and Parramatta River in Sydney. These local sites, like many places in Vietnam, continue to be contaminated by Agent Orange, dioxins and toxic leachates that account for the industrial scale manufacturing of chemical weapons along Homebush Bay.

The Naarm/Melbourne-based, Vietnamese Australian artist positions his personal experiences and perspectives in dialogue with others in his interdisciplinary practice, moving between live and online performance, video, drawing and installations. This work was made in conjunction with Nguyen’s aunt, Nguyễn Thị Kim Nhung, and uncle, Nguyễn Công Chính, who you can hear in conversation with the artist in the Artist Talks archive on our website.

The Neighbour at the Gate is now on until Saturday 18 October 2025. 11am – 5pm, Monday to Sunday. Plan your visit at the link in bio.

The Neighbour at the Gate has been made possible with the generous support of the NSW Government through its Blockbusters Funding initiative.
Congratulations to our recent BFA graduate Samuel Chan (@__szwc), who has been named one of three recipients of the ‘most exceptional’ prize at the Dr Harold Schenberg Arts Awards.

Now in its 16th year, the Dr Harold Schenberg Arts Awards offers the largest prize pool for emerging artists in Australia and is part of PICA’s ‘Hatched: National Graduate Show’. To be part of ‘Hatched’ exhibition is an honour as it showcases the next generation of Australia’s contemporary creative voices, presenting artworks by 23 outstanding art school graduates from across the country.

Sam’s award-winning installation work includes 'At Eventuality’s End' - an evocative sculptural piece previously featured in our ‘Queer Contemporary: Chaosophy ‘exhibition as well as the NAS Grad Show.

Inspired by our alumni success stories? Join our Open Day on 6 September to explore your own creative path and get application-ready with one-on-one consultation sessions. (Link in bio)

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(In order of appearance in the video)

'Embrace', 2024, resin, stainless steel hook, Conte crayon, 47 x 14.5 x 9.5cm

‘Transfiguration’, 2024, Chillagoe White Pearl marble, mild steel, incense, 172 x 26 x 26cm 

'Noose', 2024, resin, graphite, titanium rod, 30 x 14 x 5cm 

'At Eventuality's End', 2024, hand-dyed paper, wire mesh, mild steel rod, 255 x 80 x 60cm

Image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Jennifer Leahy (@silversalt_photography)

@pica_perth
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