Sydney Exhibitions

Art Gallery of NSW

Located in the Domain in Sydney, this is the city's largest art gallery. Established in 1871, it holds important collections of Australian, European and Asian art.

Normal opening hours are 10am – 5pm. General admission is free.

The Art Gallery of NSW's website can be accessed here.

Temporary exhibitions are listed below.

Tatzu Nishi: War and Peace and in Between

Tatzu Nishi has transformed the Gallery's two equesterian sculptures by enclosing them in constructions to create surreal and playful spaces.

On display 2 October – 14 February. Free entry.

40 Years: Kaldor Public Art Projects

Marking the 40th anniversary of Christo's wrapping of Little Bay, this exhibition celebrates the contemporary artists and curators that John Kaldor has introduced to Australian audiences since that time.

On display 2 October – 14 February. Free entry.

Video Swell Sydney

A program of short videos by some of Sydney's leading visual artists, four artists showcase their work for a period of two weeks each. The featured artists are Shaun Gladwell, TV Moore, The Kingpins and Kate Murphy.

On display 3 October – 29 November. Free entry.

Silk Ikats of Central Asia

Displaying late 19th century robes, tunics and textiles from Central Asia, this exhibition showcases the artistic and technical skills involved in their creation.

On display 2 July – 11 October. Paid entry.

The Dreamers

An exhibition of key pieces of work by eight leading Aboriginal artists, it celebrates their achievements and looks to common visions of the future.

On display 9 May – 18 December. Free entry.

Printmaking in the Age of Romanticism

Featuring over 100 prints from a range of major and minor Romantic artists, this exhibition focuses on the effects of Romanticism on the art form of printmaking.

On display 6 August – 25 October. Free entry.

The Field

Six paintings from the Gallery's collection focuses on the non-figurative art that become a major art form in the 1960s.

On display 5 September – 29 November. Free entry.

Australian Museum

Founded in 1845, it is the oldest museum in Australia. It features collections in the fields of zoology, mineralogy, palaeontology and anthropology. It is located at 6 College Street in Sydney, opposite Hyde Park.

Normal opening hours are 9:30am – 5pm. Entry costs $12 for adults, $6 for children aged 5 – 15 and free for those under 5 years old. There are also family tickets available.

Museum Australia's website can be accessed here.

Temporary exhibitions are listed below.

Egyptian Treasures: Art of the Pharoahs

This exhibition aims to take you back in time to experience the beauty and wonder of ancient Egypt. It boasts artefacts that include jewellery, sculpture, intricately decorated coffins and amulets from the Kunthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Some of them have never been seen in public before.

On display 13 September – 6 December. Paid entry.

The Museum of Contemporary Art

Opened in 1991 in the refurbished Maritime Services Board Building on the eastern side of Circular Quay in Sydney, this museum is dedicated to the collection and exhibition of contemporary art from Australia and around the world.

Normal opening hours are 10am – 5pm. General admission is free.

The Museum of Contemporary Art's website can be accessed here.

Temporary exhibitions are listed below.

Primavera 2009

Celebrating its 18th anniversary this year, the series introduces nine young Australian artists who have created visual works that engage the audience with humour, emotion, performance and immersive experiences.

On display 9 September – 22 November. Free entry.

MCA Collection: New Acquisitions

The curators have selected highlighted works of arts acquired by the Museum over the last 12 months, representing some of the most talented Australian artists alive today.

On display 28 July – 31 January. Free entry.

Louisa Bufardeci & Zon Ito

Presenting the work of Australian artist Louisa Bufardeci and Japanese artist Zon Ito through the use of different media forms, similarities can be drawn in their use of colour, forms and space.

On display 28 July – 25 October. Free entry.

Making it New: Focus on Contemporary Australian Art

Showcasing the work of Australian artists who have had an important impact on their local communities, this exhibition displays their engagement with modern art to create new meaning and understanding.

On display 10 September – 11 November. Free entry.

Powerhouse Museum

Housed in a converted electric tram power station in the western Sydney suburb of Ultimo, this science and technology museum displays over 70,000 objects collected since 1880. The Museum houses a number of permanent interactive exhibits designed to educate and entertain.

Normal opening hours are 10am – 5pm. Entry costs $10 for adults, $5 for children aged 5 – 14 and is free for children aged under 5. For Seniors Card holders, pensioners and other concession card holders, the cost is $6. Family tickets are also available.

Powerhouse Museum's website can be accessed here.

Details of their temporary exhibitions can be seen here.

The Museum of Sydney

Built on the site of Australia's first Government House, Governor Arthur Phillip's first Sydney home in 1788, this museum examines and presents the history of Sydney and its people.

Normal opening hours are 9:30am – 5pm. Entry costs $10 for adults, $5 for children and concession card holders, and $20 for families.

The Museum of Sydney's website can be accessed here.

Temporary exhibitions are listed below.

Shooting Through: Sydney by Tram

Bringing together objects, photographs and archival film, this exhibition presents a hands-on experience of Sydney's 100 year history of trams from 1861 to 1961.

On display 4 April – 18 October. Free entry.

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