The expanded Newcastle Art Gallery is flexing its curatorial muscle, unveiling two Australian premieres today including its first international exhibition since reopening in February.
The new exhibitions feature the work of globally recognised Newcastle-based artist Angela Tiatia, and Tokyo and London based art duo A.A.Murakami.
Artist Angela Tiatia and Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM celebrate the launch of Angela Tiatia: Muse.
Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM said City of Newcastle's expansion of the gallery was about more than just gaining additional exhibition space.
"The expansion gave us physical scale, but the real transformation came from expanding our thinking about what our state-of-the-art institution should offer," Ms Morton said.
"We celebrate local and national artists and champion artists of global impact, creating world-class exhibitions that engage people with the transformational power of art.
"Angela Tiatia is one of the most vital voices in contemporary Australian art, and we're incredibly proud to present the first major survey of her career here in Newcastle, the city she currently calls home.
"Combine this with A.A.Murakami's beautiful, immersive sculptural installation, which is on display for the first time in Australia, and you've got a truly unforgettable experience at Newcastle Art Gallery."
Featuring video, photography and installation, Angela Tiatia: Muse will bring together the artist's most significant works across two decades.
The ticketed exhibition traces the arc of the Sāmoan/Australian artist's multi-disciplinary career, from her earliest practice in which she turned the camera on herself as subject, through to grander-scale works incorporating larger, ensemble casts.
Alongside Muse, Newcastle Art Gallery will also present the first gallery showing of The Matildas, 2025 outside the National Portrait Gallery, which commissioned the work.
Filmed across three continents, five cities and seven shoots, the 23-minute video portrait captures the presence, emotion and mental focus of all 23 players from the CommBank Matildas FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Squad, including Newcastle's own Emily van Egmond and Clare Wheeler.
Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation Chair Suzie Galwey and Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM take a first look at A.A.Murakami: New Spring.
The Gallery's premieres continue with the presentation of A.A.Murakami's New Spring, on display for the first time in Australia thanks to the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation as the major global exhibition supporter.
The multisensory work was created by Azusa Murakami and Alexander Groves as part of their ephemeral technology series, in which the artists make their own machines to recreate natural phenomena.
The installation will see luminous mist-filled bubbles bloom and fall like flowers from three tree-like sculptures during the course of the exhibition.
Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation Chair Suzie Galwey said the Foundation was thrilled to help bring such an important international exhibition to Newcastle.
"As the Gallery's major philanthropic supporter, the Foundation is delighted to support the activation of our wonderful new Gallery and bring ambitious international exhibitions to our community," Ms Galwey said.
"We are incredibly proud to play a part in making this possible, and I would like to sincerely thank our donors for their unwavering generosity and support. Their commitment enables the Gallery to deliver extraordinary experiences for the Newcastle community and beyond."
Capping off the new works of art on display at the Gallery is the installation of the second window commission in the Learning Studio, which faces onto Darby Street.
It showcases Hunter-based artist Indeah Clark, whose large-scale graphic depicts a network of faces, reflecting the people and places that shape our sense of self and belonging.
Tickets for Angela Tiatia: Muse are on sale via the Newcastle Art Gallery website. Entry to The Matildas, 2025 is free to the public, with both exhibitions running from 26 September 2026 to 7 February 2027.
New Spring will be on display from 26 September 2026 to 31 January 2027 with free entry to the public, while Clarke's window commission will remain in place until 26 September 2027.
The new exhibitions are opening alongside City of Newcastle's flagship multi-arts festival, New Annual, which features 10 days of art, music, theatre and performance from 25 September to 4 October 2026.
The full program for New Annual is available at www.newannual.com.
