Darlinghurst Gaol and National Art School Tours

Darlinghurst Gaol and National Art School Tours

2023-02-04

Please note Gaol and Campus Tours are currently unavailable.

Please see the Galleries page for up to date information on exhibitions. The NAS Cafe and Art Bar are also open to the public.

The site of the former Darlinghurst Gaol and the National Art School is one of Australia’s oldest and best-preserved examples of colonial sandstone architecture, which over the last two centuries has transformed from a place of abject misery to one of Australia’s premier art institutes. According to legend, the building is haunted by the restless ghosts of some of the 76 people including bushrangers, the ‘demon dentist’ and men and women who were executed at the gaol’s gallows.

NAS Drawing Lecturer @luke_thurgate was at @secca__bega last week recreating his work `I believe in you` as part of the 23rd Dobell Drawing Prize touring exhibition. The exhibition presents a selection of 56 finalists` work from the 2023 Prize, including Jane Grealy’s winning work `Maria’s Garden, Scheme C`. Open until 28 June 2025.
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Luke Thurgate with his work `I believe in you` at SECCA, 2025, as part of the Dobell Drawing Prize #23 touring exhibition, image courtesy and © the artists and SECCA, photography: @marcuswardcurran

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May 19

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NAS Drawing Lecturer @luke_thurgate was at @secca__bega last week recreating his work 'I believe in you' as part of the 23rd Dobell Drawing Prize touring exhibition. The exhibition presents a selection of 56 finalists' work from the 2023 Prize, including Jane Grealy’s winning work 'Maria’s Garden, Scheme C'. Open until 28 June 2025.
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Luke Thurgate with his work 'I believe in you' at SECCA, 2025, as part of the Dobell Drawing Prize #23 touring exhibition, image courtesy and © the artists and SECCA, photography: @marcuswardcurran

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.

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May 10

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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.

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

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May 9

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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

“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

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May 9

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“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.
—
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

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]

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May 7

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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: info@bandicootp.com.au

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

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May 1

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Darlinghurst Gaol and National Art School Tours