Join us for a dynamic program of public events at the National Art School to celebrate the opening of our major exhibition The Neighbour at the Gate.
Opening during NAIDOC week, the public program will take place over two days, Friday 11 and Saturday 12 July.
Saturday 12 July
8pm – 10.30pm
Cell Block Theatre
Ticketed, 18+
You are warmly invited to join us for an industry day, focused on artist talks and art making opportunities. Hear directly from the guest curatorium and the featured artists in The Neighbour at the Gate exhibition, charts the entangled legacies of exclusion and resilience, drawing vital parallels between the past and present, memory and nationhood.
Create a ceramic work to add to James Nguyen’s participatory installation artwork Homeopathies_where new trees grow (2025), or make a fabric tassel inspired by Jacky Cheng’s work Imaginary Homelands (2025). Learn more about the shared histories and stories behind this immersive exhibition.
Friday 11 July
10am – 10.30am
NAS Gallery
Free admission, all welcome
Friday 11 July
10.45am – 11.15am
NAS Gallery
Free admission, all welcome
Friday 11 July
11.30am – 12pm
NAS Gallery
Free admission, all welcome
Friday 11 July
12.15pm – 12.45pm
Gallery Green
Free admission, all welcome
Friday 11 July
2pm – 2.30pm
NAS Gallery
Free admission, all welcome
Friday 11 July
NEW TIME 2.45pm – 3.15pm
NAS Gallery
Free admission, all welcome
Friday 11 July
3.15pm – 3.45pm
Chapel Ground Floor
Free admission, all welcome
Join us from 11am until 3pm for a fun-filled day of family friendly, free creative activities. See the exhibition, participate in artmaking and mindfulness sessions led by Madina Yoga, and enjoy drop-in workshops facilitated by art educators, inspired by the artworks in the exhibition. Explore a range of mediums including ceramics, textiles and printmaking inspired by the work of exhibiting artists Jacky Cheng, Dennis Golding, James Nguyen and Jason Phu. Visitors can contribute a clay piece to the exhibition and take away their own textile tassel or hand printed tote bag at the end of the day.
From 12pm – 1pm, hear directly from the exhibiting artists and curators in a free panel talk, unpacking the themes of the exhibition.
After a day of artmaking and artist talks, join us for an evening of free DJ sets outdoors, with DJ Rocky Stallone, Sveta and Mason Kimber and food and beverages from 5pm. Closing out the Opening Weekend celebrations is our major program event, the Shared Skies Music Concert in the historic Cell Block Theatre, with live performances from BARKAA, Rainbow Chan and DJ Rocky Stallone (ticketed event, bookings essential).
Alongside our special celebrations and activities, the NAS Gallery will be open for extended hours until 8pm.
Saturday 12 July
11am – 11.30am & 2pm – 2.30pm
Building 25 Project Space
Free admission, all welcome
Saturday 12 July
11am – 8pm
Campus wide
Free admission, all welcome
Saturday 12 July
12pm – 1pm
Cell Block Theatre
Free admission, all welcome
Saturday 12 July
8pm – 10.30pm
Cell Block Theatre
Ticketed, 18+
Karatsu ceramicist Yukiko Tsuchiya (@tsuchiyayukiko) and curator Kathryn Hunyor (@artspeople_au) delivered two very special workshops in the teaching studios of the Ceramics Department at the National Art School (NAS), in an exciting collaboration between The Japan Foundation (@jpfsydney), Sydney, the NAS Ceramics Department and the National Art School.
Peek inside the wheel-throwing and hand-coiling masterclasses that took place.
Sep 14
If you are visiting Sydney Contemporary art fair today, keep an eye out for the many artworks on display by our extraordinary alumni. These are just a handful to spot. 1. Kirtika Kain at Roslyn Oxley9 2. Catherine O’Donnell at Dominik Mersch Gallery 3. Oliver Abbott at Dominik Mersch Gallery 4. Eliza Gosse at Edwina Corlette Gallery 5. Mirra Whale at Mitchell Fine Art 6. Erin Murphy at Velvet Lobster.
Sep 14
NAS Fellow Guido Maestri (@_guido_maestri) opens his solo exhibition, `Buoy,` at Ames Yavuz. Inspired by the landscapes of Pittwater and Ku-ring-gai National Park, the show marks a new evolution in the artist`s work. The exhibition continues until September 27.
Congratulations to NAS Alumna Johanna Ng (@johanna__ng) for winning the 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize for her work, `a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd`.
The 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize is made possible by the Australian Photographic Society (@austphotosoc) in partnership with the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre (@muswellbrookartscentre), and with the support of Bengalla Mining Company, MACH Energy, Malabar Resources and AGL.
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1) Guido Maestri, `Whole sound`, 2025, oil on linen, 152 x 183 cm, courtesy of the artist and Ames Yavuz (@amesyavuz).
2) Johanna Ng, ‘a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd’ 2024, inkjet print on cotton rag, inkjet print on clear film, 59.4 x 80.5cm, courtesy of the artist and MCPP
Sep 12
Sydney Contemporary is now open!
We’re thrilled to welcome you to Booth J12, where we are showcasing the work of nine emerging artists and alumni, including Jake Bartley @_trizm__, Christian Bonett @christian_bonett_art, Harrison Chao @w4r.h4mm3r, Lewis Doherty @lewisstepsandrew, Isabella Kennedy @isa.kennedy, Rachel Mackay @rachelmackay.art, Megan McKenzie @megan_mckenzie_, Johanna Ng @johanna__ng, and Taylor Steel @taylor__steel.
Sydney Contemporary is on until Sunday 14 September 2025 at Carriageworks — we look forward to seeing you there!
Sep 11
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Open Day last Saturday! Don’t forget: applications for the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) round close on Friday 3 October.
We have more in-person and online info sessions coming up. Sign up via link in bio to find out what makes NAS different from all other Fine Art degrees or receive one-on-one feedback on your portfolio from a member of the NAS Academic Team.
Image credit: Nicole Anderson (@nicoleandersonphotography)
Sep 9
The National Art School is seeking an experienced Exhibitions Officer with strong attention to detail to join the NAS Gallery Team.
As Exhibitions Officer, you’ll be a key operational support to the NAS Gallery team, helping deliver a vibrant program of exhibitions, talks, and events. You’ll coordinate volunteers, maintain gallery presentation standards, assist with production and publications, and contribute to audience engagement aligned with the School’s strategic goals.
To learn more about the position and to apply, visit nas.edu.au (link in bio).
Sep 8
