Mildura Arts Centre (MAC) is proud to present Extraordinary Women: Works from the NGV Collection, a major exhibition celebrating the creativity, resilience, and cultural impact of women across the centuries.
Presented in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the exhibition will run from Sunday 26 October 2025 to Sunday 1 February 2026.
Mildura Mayor and Councillor for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Healy said the exhibition reinforced Mildura Arts Centre's long-standing relationship with the NGV.
"We've enjoyed a positive creative relationship with the renowned National Gallery Victoria for many years now, which has enabled the MAC team to bring experiences usually reserved for capital cities to our community," Cr Healy said.
"Extraordinary Women: Works from the NGV Collection is not only the latest example of this, but an absolute standout in terms of its significance, reinforcing MAC's reputation as one of the finest arts centres in regional Australia.
"I'd encourage local residents to take advantage of this rare opportunity to experience some truly iconic artwork without having to leave the region."
Extraordinary Women draws from the NGV's world-class collection to showcase a diverse array of portraits – spanning painting, mixed media, fashion, photography and ceramics. This compelling exhibition explores how women have both influenced and been influenced by evolving ideas of identity, power, and representation.
The exhibition features a diverse range of artists including Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, Pablo Picasso, George W Lambert, Suzanne Valadon, Tracey Moffatt, and the Guerrilla Girls.
Organised into four thematic sections – Best Foot Forward, Celebrity, Independence and Empowerment, and Embodied Histories – the exhibition highlights the evolving roles and portrayals of women.
Audiences will be able to explore portraits of celebrated figures such as Dame Nellie Melba, Helena Rubinstein, and Henry Handel Richardson, as well as works by First Nations and culturally diverse artists.
Fashion also takes centre stage, including Lizzy Gardiner's iconic Oscar's dress made of gold American Express cards and designs by Carla Zampatti and MATERIALBYPRODUCT offering fresh perspectives on gender, performance, and self-expression.
Running alongside this exhibition is Portraits: Past to Present, a complementary exhibition drawn from the Mildura Arts Centre Collection works by Cecil Mary Allen, Edgar Degas, William Orpen, through to contemporary artists such as Justine Muller, Lorraine Jenyns, Wes Walters and Barry Humphries. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on how portraiture continues to tell powerful stories across generations.
The two exhibitions represent a landmark season for MAC.
Exhibition Dates:
Extraordinary Women: Works from the NGV Collection
26 October 2025 – 1 February 2026
Portraits: Past to Present
10 October 2025 – 1 February 2026
