What’s On: January – June 2020

Welcome to the National Art School (NAS) and Issue 2 of our arts and education bulletin. Our site accommodates vibrant and engaging programs that make art and culture accessible to the whole community. We actively seek to develop programs, festivals, talks and events onsite, and to further develop our outreach programs to Western Sydney and regional NSW. There is so much to get involved in at NAS and we welcome you to join us for one of our many programs and activities. You can see exhibitions, attend special events, school holiday classes, intensive weekend workshops, talks and forums and more.

You’ll find all the details of our programs over the next few months in this publication – pick up a copy when on campus or download below. I look forward to welcoming you soon and encourage you to join us here at NAS.

Steven Alderton
Director and CEO

DOWNLOAD THE WHAT’S ON BROCHURE HERE

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.

—
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.
—
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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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

We are pleased to announce two international residency opportunities for our alumni and staff community for 2026: The Onslow Storrier NAS Residency La Cité Internationale Des Arts, Paris and The British School at Rome.

These residencies offer a unique chance to immerse yourself in the vibrant art scenes of two iconic European cities, Paris and Rome, and further develop your artistic practice in an enriching cultural environment.

Application Deadline: Sunday 29 June 2025

Learn more and apply at the link in bio.
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Sophia Lee Georgas BSR Open Studio, 2023, image courtesy and © The British School at Rome; Harry de Vries BSR Open Studio, 2024, image courtesy and © The British School at Rome

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Apr 28

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What’s On: January – June 2020

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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.