Maitland Regional Art Gallery stands on Wonnarua Country. We pay deep respect to the custodians of this land, the Wonnarua people, and celebrate their continuous connection and care for culture and community for the past 60,000 years. mrag.org.au
2026
Artists Shan Turner-Carroll and Catherine McGuiness, as part of their Studio A collaboration being celebrated at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Photography: Diana Panuccio
Over the decades this gallery has been the heartbeat of the community. It is a place that remains accessible and welcoming to all. This year we embrace this foundation and launch two new programs critical to our creative and arts health programs. Big Smoke Little Smoke is a collaboration between MRAG, Studio A, and Mai-Wel offering a year long journey of mentorship, skill-building, and artistic innovation for five local artists living with disability.
Our new program Spill the Tea will also be embedded in 2026 and aims to create an empowering space for young LGBTQIA+ individuals to express themselves creatively and connect with community. Both of these programs will be lead by artist Shan Turner-Carroll.
Our beautiful heritage building began its life as a site of education in 1910 and this will always be part of the gallery’s DNA – our education programs and arts health initiatives are supported by many including our partners Cleverpatch and EJE architecture and these partnerships remain and grow stronger in 2026 through our Free Art Sunday and Young Architects programs. Then of course we bring you the always popular ARTEXPRESS with many schools and students invited to take part in our programs.
In 2026 we also bring back the Hunter showcase of art with Upriver Downriver –this was so popular with our visitors
in 2023 and we can’t wait to celebrate this place, the Hunter Valley, in this comprehensive exhibition of regional talent.
Another highlight includes the exhibition New Old School curated by Luke Thurgate and Chelsea Lehmann. The exhibition is rooted in an understanding of where painting has come from, while also being firmly made for now. There’s a genuine respect for the craft, the materials, the long conversations of painting — but also a clear-eyed awareness of how complicated that history can be. This will be an exciting exhibition with so many opportunities for discussion and programs.
Tarnanthi is Australia’s leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art festival, celebrating the innovation and diversity of contemporary First Nations artists. To mark Tarnanthi’s tenth anniversary in 2025, the Art Gallery of South Australia presented a major exhibition and launched a national tour of ground-breaking works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across the country. Maitland is thrilled to be hosting Too Deadly: Ten Years of Tarnanthi in 2026 as one of the major highlights of the year.
We can’t wait to welcome you all here to the heart of the Hunter in 2026.
GERRY BOBSIEN GALLERY DIRECTOR
EXHIBITIONS
15 Nov 2025 – 22 Feb 2026
THE SHOW
LUCY CULLITON
8 Nov 2025 – 1 Mar 2026
THE WOODEN CITY
BENJAMIN GALLAGHER
21 Feb – 21 Jun 2026
SEA OF LEGS
JUDY-ANN MOULE
21 Feb – 19 Apr 2026
ARTEXPRESS
VARIOUS ARTISTS
28 Feb – 21 Jun 2026
THE PLACES THAT MAKE US
RAY MONDE
14 Mar – 28 Jun 2026
NEW OLD SCHOOL
ROB CLEWORTH, NICHOLAS IVES, KATE KURUCZ, CHELSEA LEHMANN, JORDAN RICHARDSON, LUKE THURGATE AND HEIDI YARDLEY. CURATED BY CHELSEA LEHMANN AND LUKE THURGATE
28 Apr – 14 Jun 2026
FIRE SCARS
RENAE SAXBY
11 Jun – 28 Jun 2026
COLOURING OUTSIDE THE LINES: CELEBRATING CHILDREN AS ARTISTS AND CITIZEN S
CHILDREN WITH EDUCATORS AT EAST MAITLAND
PRESCHOOL – GEORGE STREET & BRUNSWICK STREET PRESCHOOLS
11 Jul – 11 Oct 2026
UPRIVER DOWNRIVER
VARIOUS ARTISTS
31 Oct 2026 – 14 Feb 2027
TOO DEADLY: TEN YEARS OF TARNANTHI AGSA
VARIOUS ARTISTS
17 Oct 2026 – 7 Feb 2027
SUN ROOM
DAN NELSON
31 Oct 2026 – 21 Feb 2027
BY POPULAR DEMAND
JACK HODGES
7 Nov 2026 – 28 Feb 2027
OPERATION ART
VARIOUS ARTISTS
7 Nov 2026 – 21 Feb 2027
MIMILI MAKU ARTS
14 Nov 2026 – 7 Mar 2027
DANCE WITH ME DARLING
VARIOUS ARTISTS
2026 EXHIBITIONS
Photo: Leighsa Cox
CONVERSATIONS: ART & DEMENTIA
Monthly
Conversations: Art & Dementia is a free 90 minute social tour of exhibitions, created specifically for people living with dementia and their carers. The tours are guided by a trained facilitator who uses art as a gateway for conversation and self-expression, enabling visitors to express their thoughts and emotions in a friendly and supportive environment.
GROUP TOURS
Group tours available for people living in care facilities
See our website for our program schedule. Bookings essential via phone, 02 4934 9859 or email: artgallery@maitland.nsw.gov.au
AUSLAN INTERPRETED EXHIBITION TOURS
Explore each season of exhibitions with our Gallery Guide and an Auslan interpreter, where you will learn more about the Gallery’s exhibitions and events along with fascinating stories about the artworks on display. Bring a friend or two for a relaxed social afternoon.
SPILLING THE TEA
Spilling The Tea is a monthly art class for queer youth, creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering space for young LGBTQIA+ individuals to express themselves creatively and connect with community.
Check mrag.org.au for event updates and booking information.
EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS, FAMILIES & STUDENTS
Daily CODE BREAKERS
Are you good at solving puzzles?
Do you think that you can locate some hidden treasures in the art gallery?
Then grab a Code Breaker from the front desk and use the clues to crack the code!
Weekly
FREE ART SUNDAY
10.00AM—12.00 NOON EVERY SUNDAY
Free Art Sunday is designed to encourage parents and children to add to their experience of the gallery by accessing hands-on activities in a family-friendly environment. No bookings required.
Sponsored by our Members & Cleverpatch
January 2026
SUMMER ART FEST
Every year we have a festival of art and artmaking for young people with a bumper program released each Summer.
Sponsored by our Members & Cleverpatch
Monthly THE YOUNG ARCHITECTS
Many young people are curious about art, buildings, design and engineering. Our Young Architects program is aimed at nurturing creative design thinking with fun workshops led by a team of architects and artists.
Sponsored by EJE architecture
School terms
SCHOOL VISITS & WORKSHOPS
MRAG is a significant local resource valued by educators, not only for its exhibitions and art collection, but for its public spaces, big backyard and workshop facilities. We have professional artists who regularly offer affordable workshops to students.
Despite being closed to the public on Mondays, during each school term we welcome teachers and students for exclusive Gallery access, workshops or self-directed activities.
Photo: Leighsa Cox
HERITAGE RESTORATION
THE VALERIE JAMES ROOM
We love our beautiful heritage building, though it sometimes needs a little extra care and attention. In 2026, Maitland City Council will be giving our collection store, the Valerie James Room, a well-deserved refresh and repaint. This restoration will include uncovering and restoring our stunning original ceiling, which is currently concealed by plasterboard.
To make this possible, our entire collection will be temporarily relocated in February 2026 from the Valerie James Room to the upstairs gallery exhibition floor. This move will give us a unique opportunity to spend a few months focusing closely on our collection and to secure the future of our storage space for years to come.
During the restoration period, we’ll be displaying as much of the collection as possible throughout our upstairs galleries. We also plan to host several behind-the-scenes events for our members as we explore, relocate, and rediscover works from the collection. Our collection store currently houses around 8,000 works of art in an environmentally controlled space, carefully monitored for humidity and temperature. Moving all of these works will be a major logistical exercise for the MRAG team, and we can’t wait to take it on!
FEB – MAY 2026
Lucy Culliton, Self with domestic still life, 2000, oil on board, 189 x 100cm, on loan from the artist and King St Gallery on William
THE SHOW
LUCY CULLITON
Lucy Culliton’s exhibition The Show explores the vibrant culture of regional agricultural shows through her unique lens, celebrating the people, landscapes, and eccentricities of regional life.
In her work Culliton captures the energy and warmth of local agricultural fairs, evoking nostalgia and community spirit. It brings to life quirky characters, lively animals and rustic scenes that define these beloved annual events.
Benjamin Gallagher, Nature will find a way and in time will envelope us all (Waste Not, Want Not), 2025, canvas, aluminium, enamel, oxides and copper on board, 167.5 x 106cm
THE WOODEN CITY
BENJAMIN GALLAGHER
In The Wooden City, Benjamin Gallagher presents highly laboured, beautifully constructed forms that focus on his own observations of the buildings we inhabit. His studies in architecture and industrial design play alongside his decades long experience working with his father as a heritage tradesman, mostly in the highly skilled restoration of slate roofs, many of those in Maitland.
“ I analyse buildings, both old and new. Be they serious and considered or rustic and humble, I find intrigue in the process of their construction, the decisions made on their behalf, on behalf of the culture they inhabit. Studies in architecture and industrial design set against my working life as a heritage roof slater and copper-smith have enabled me a unique perspective. The charm and romanticism of a Victorian handrail captivates me in equal measure to the form-finish surface a brutalist wall. ”
– BENJAMIN GALLAGHER
Judy-Ann Moule, Sea of Legs (detail), 2011-2025, lycra stockings, lawn bowls, timber, zip ties. dimensions variable. Installation image Queensland University of Technology
SEA OF LEGS
JUDY-ANN MOULE
Sea of Legs is a striking installation by Dr Judy-Ann Moule. The work draws on childhood memories and the feeling of being powerless, using scale to bring those emotions to the surface.
Through sculpture and installation, Moule revisits the experience of being small and surrounded—a sea of legs towering overhead. The piece stems from a vivid early memory: being two years old, caught in a crowded room full of partying adults.
Isaac Trinh, In the Beginning, it was all Black and White (detail), 2025, mixed media, 65 x 90cm
ARTEXPRESS
ARTEXPRESS is a collaboration between NSW Department of Education and NSW Education Standards Authority
ARTEXPRESS is an annual showcase of outstanding artworks submitted by students across NSW for the HSC Visual Arts examination. It celebrates the artistry, knowledge and skills of our youngest artists.
Artworks selected for exhibition demonstrate high levels of conceptual strength and technical resolution.
The exhibition offers emerging artists a public platform to share their artistic vision and critical thinking in a wide variety of art forms.
ARTEXPRESS is a joint partnership between the NSW Department of Education and the NSW Education Standards Authority.
21 FEB – 19 APR 2026
Eve Allen, Minnie (detail), 2025, 40 x 160cm
Ray Monde, Hound of Love featuring Luke Arnold, 2025, 240 x 240cm, ghostworked collage on board
THE PLACES THAT SHAPE US
The Places That Shape Us examines queer lived experiences in regional Australia told through the large-scale paper sculptural forms of Ray Monde. Based in Braidwood NSW, the artist weaves his own memories with those of his peers and collaborators.
Through immersive collages, shaped in conversation with artists such as Nell, Todd Fuller and Prue Hazelgrove, we explore the emotional landscape of growing up different in the country.
RAY MONDE
Kate Kurucz, They're Coming to Get You Barbara, 2025, oil on linen, 120 x 120cm
NEW OLD SCHOOL
ROB CLEWORTH NICHOLAS IVES
KATE KURUCZ CHELSEA LEHMANN
JORDAN RICHARDSON
LUKE THURGATE
HEIDI YARDLEY
Curated by Chelsea Lehmann and Luke Thurgate
New Old School brings together seven contemporary painters who treat art history as a living companion rather than a distant legacy. Engaging in a “conversation across time”, the artists reimagine historical forms, materials, and figures to explore how the past persists within the present. Balancing reverence and reinvention, the exhibition celebrates painting’s enduring vitality and complex history.
Renae Saxby, Fire Scars Salisbury, 2023, digital photograph
FIRE SCARS
RENAE SAXBY
Renae Saxby is a documentary and music photographer based on Wonnarua Country. Her work delves into the human experience, spanning intimate portraiture, live performance, and remote landscapes with a strong emphasis on cultural and environmental preservation.
In this exhibition, Saxby examines fire as both a destructive and regenerative force. Created during a period of personal upheaval, this work merges intimate narrative with landscape. Through immersive photography and sound, the exhibition reflects on grief, resilience, and the potential for healing held within fire’s transformative presence.
Children of George Street with Charmaine, Belonging (Our Place), 2022, watercolour and felt tip on canvas
COLOURING OUTSIDE THE LINES
CELEBRATING CHILDREN AS ARTISTS AND CITIZENS
Children with educators at East Maitland Preschool –
George Street & Brunswick Street Preschools
Central to the preschool’s philosophy is a rich, child-led arts curriculum. Guided by inquiry, these experiences nurture imagination, collaboration, and a deep connection to materials and ideas.
This exhibition will advocate for children as artists and thinkers, showcasing visual narratives that highlight their voices, relationships, and creative journeys—inviting the community to share in the wonder of early childhood learning.
JUN - 28 JUN 2026
Kimberly Swan, Insurance Job (detail), 2025, oil on board, 30 x 40cm
UPRIVER DOWNRIVER
VARIOUS ARTISTS
The Hunter River has shaped one of the most important regions in Australia and along its mighty length we have a community of artists connected geographically and creatively.
Building on the 2023 iteration of Upriver Downriver, Maitland Regional Art Gallery will embark on a major exhibition energising all our Gallery spaces to celebrate the expansive range of art and ideas resonating throughout our region.
Join us on a journey through the eyes of artists as we wind our way from the Upper Hunter down through to Maitland, across many tributaries and into the Port of Newcastle.
The artists selected for this exhibition reflect the diversity of practice and ideas in the region and we want to celebrate this and give our audience the opportunity to see our building hum with the creative energy of the Hunter.
11 JUL – 11 OCT 2026
Bugai Whyoulter, Kartujarra people, Western Australia, born Pukayiyirna, Western Australia c.1939, Wantili (Warntili, Canning Stock Route Well 25) (detail), 2021, Kunawarritji, Western Australia, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 152 x 106cm, acquisition through Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art supported by BHP 2023, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, © the artist, courtesy of Martumili Artists
TOO DEADLY: TEN YEARS OF TARNANTHI
Tarnanthi is a national festival of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, presented by the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA). Since 2015, Tarnanthi has established itself as a nation-leader in showcasing the nuanced complexity and ingenuity of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
Too Deadly presents major highlight works of artistic excellence from a decade of Tarnanthi festivals, with more than thirty ground-breaking works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across the country.
This national touring exhibition features innovative, significant and memorable works, some of them conceived specifically for Tarnanthi. Several are monumental in their scale, others are immense in the cultural importance of the stories they tell. All reflect the creative vitality and adaptive genius of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
Tarnanthi is presented by AGSA in partnership with BHP and with the support of the Government of South Australia. Too Deadly: Ten Years of Tarnanthi touring exhibition has been assisted by the Australian Government's Visions of Australia program.
Alec Baker, Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Shirley Well, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1932
Eric Mungi Kunmanara Barney, Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1973
Freda Brady, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Amata, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1961
Moses Brady, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1993
Michael Bruno, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia/Luritja people Northern Territory, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1994
Angela Burton, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1966
Cisco Burton, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born near Irrunytju (Wingellina), South Australia 1963
Kunmanara (Hector) Burton, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born near Pipalyatjara, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1937, died Pukatja (Ernabella), Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 2017
Noel Burton, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1994
Kunmanara Carroll, Pitjantjatjara/Luritja people, South Australia/ Northern Territory, born Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff), Northern Territory 1950, died Pukatja (Ernabella), Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 2021
Kunmanara (Taylor) Wanyima Cooper, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Malara, a waterhole east of Pipalyatjara, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1940, died 2024
Kunmanara (Ngilan) Dodd, Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Antara (Sandy Bore), South Australia 1946, died Mimili, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 2023
Sammy Dodd, Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Winpiranganyi, South Australia 1946
Jimmy Donegan, Ngaanyatjarra people, Western Australia/ Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Yapan near Ngatuntjarra bore, Western Australia 1940, died Mutijulu, Northern Territory 2022
Maureen Douglas, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs, Northern Territory 1966
Kunmanara (Ronnie) Douglas, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Umbeara, Northern Territory 1949, died Amata, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 2017
Kunmanara Stanley Douglas, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Kulgera, Northern Territory 1944
Arnie Frank, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Yanyarinyi (Kenmore Park), Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1960
Witjiti George, Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Lambina/Granite Downs Station, South Australia 1938
Kunmanara (Gordon) Ingkatji, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Titu, South Australia c.1930, died Pukatja (Ernabella), Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 2016
Adrian Intjalki, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mimili, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1943
Mr Jack, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mimili, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1951, died Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 2025
Kunmanara (Willy) Kaika Burton, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born near Irrunytju (Wingellina), Western Australia 1941, died Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 2020
Mrs Kunmanara (Nyurpaya) Kaika Burton, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Atila (Mount Conner),Northern Territory 1949, died Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 2023
Naomi Kantjuriny, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Victory Downs, South Australia 1944
Kunmanara (Brenton) Ken, Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Willi Willi, south west of Amata, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1944, died Mparntwe (Alice Springs) 2018
Freddy Ken, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Pukatja (Ernabella), Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1951
Kunmanara (Ray) Ken, Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Amaruna, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1940, died Mutitjulu, Northern Territory 2018
Iluwanti Ken, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Watarru, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia c.1944
Graham Kulyuru, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Kunytjanu, South Australia 1939
Kunmanara (Willy Muntjantji) Martin, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Pukatja (Ernabella), South Australia 1950, died Kulgera, Northern Territory 2018
Errol Morris, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Pukatja (Ernabella), South Australia 1965
Kevin Morris, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1984
Mark Morris, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1975
Kunmanara (Peter) Mungkuri, Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born near Kaltjiti (Fregon), Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia c. 1946, died Indulkana, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 2021
Vincent Namatjira, Western Aranda people, Northern Territory, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1983
Kunmanara (Tiger) Palpatja, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Piltati, South Australia c.1920, died Amata, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 2012
Kunmanara (Mary) Katatjuku Pan, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Rocket Bore, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia c.1944, died Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 2025
Kunmanara (David) Pearson, Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Indulkana, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia c.1964, died 2025
Kunmanara (Jimmy) Pompey, Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Gap Well, South Australia 1952, died Port Augusta, South Australia 2018
Aaron Riley, Walpiri people, Northern Territory, born Ali Curung, Northern Territory 1974
Adrian Riley, Walpiri people, Northern Territory, born west of Ali Curung, Northern Territory 1961
William Tjapaltjarri Sandy, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Tanu Well, South Australia 1951
Priscilla Singer, Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Port Augusta, South Australia 1968
Keith Stevens, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Granite Downs Station, South Australia 1940
Lydon Stevens, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Cundeelee, Western Australia 1967
Bernard Tjalkuri, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Waltja rockhole, South Australia c.1930
Lyndon Tjangala, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1994
Mr Wangin, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Pukatja (Ernabella), South Australia c.1939
Ginger Wikilyiri, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Kunumata, South Australia 1930
Mick Wikilyiri, Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Rocket Bore, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands, Northern Territory 1938
Mumu Mike Williams, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Inturjanu between Kenmore Park and Pukatja (Ernabella), Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1952, died Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 2019
Anwar Young, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1994
Carol Young, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1972
Frank Young, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born near Artuti, South Australia 1949
Kamurin Young, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1994
Marcus Young, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1998
Roma Young, Ngaanyatjarra people, Western Australia/Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Warburton, Western Australia 1952
Yaritji Tingila Young, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Pukatja (Ernabella), Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1956
Kulata Tjuta, 2017, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia, wood, spinifex resin, kangaroo tendon, plus 6 channel DVD with sound, dimensions variable, acquisition through Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art supported by BHP 2017, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, © the artists, courtesy of the APY Art Centre Collective
Mimili Maku artists during a bush camp at Parawalpi working on new collaborative paintings for the Cultural Collection
MIMILI MAKU ARTS
Mimili Maku Arts is an Aboriginal-owned and governed art centre based in Mimili Community on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, South Australia. For over 20 years, it has supported artists to sustain strong cultural practice through painting, bush camps, and community-led knowledge sharing grounded in Tjukurpa, Country, and kinship.
This exhibition marks the public launch of Alpiri Kuwari, Mimili Maku Arts’ Living Cultural Collection, an artist-led approach to collecting that prioritises cultural authority, care, and continuity. Developed by the Mimili Maku membership, the collection keeps significant works connected to artists and Country, while opening pathways for cultural exchange beyond the APY Lands.
Bringing together works created in and around Mimili during recent bush camps alongside key works by founding artists, the exhibition traces the evolution of Mimili Maku Arts and the enduring strength of its cultural foundations. Shaped by the principle of ngapartji-ngapartji, reciprocity and shared responsibility, the exhibition invites audiences into an active relationship with living culture.
“ Ka nganana Tjukurpa nyanga paluru tjananya kanyira, nganana kunpu ngaranyi.
When we look after our own stories, after our own cultural obligations, we are strong. ”
— TUPPY NGINTJA GOODWIN, CHAIRPERSON
Dan Nelson, Wandering fragrance (detail), 2025, oil on canvas, 60 x 60cm, image courtesy of the artist
SUN ROOM
DAN NELSON
17 OCT 2026 – 7 FEB 2027
Muloobinba/Newcastle based artist
Dan Nelson is known for her luminous paintings. She sometimes thinks of them as light-filled rooms — spaces that both artist and viewer can enter and experience.
Her series Sun Room follows this idea, bringing together works that mediate between inner and outer worlds with brightness and hope. The paintings wander between still life and landscape, offering the viewer solace and replenishment.
Image provided by Jack Hodges
BY POPULAR DEMAND
JACK HODGES
Based in Gumbaynggirr Country in Nambucca Heads, Jack Hodges is interested in the way local culture and quiet assumptions of power can influence our daily lives. He does this through introducing his character Gary the Dolphin in a series of recorded vox-pops on the streets.
Gary is a central figure in Jack’s work, a laid-back human-porpoise hybrid, embodying the existential paradox of freedom and in 2026 Gary comes to the streets of Maitland. Through conversations in the community, Gary reveals how personal beliefs meet public conversation — what gets spoken, what stays quiet, and who sets the limits of what’s acceptable.
Evie Spencer, Hamilton North Public School, Lazybug, 2025
OPERATION ART
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Operation Art is an initiative of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in association with the New South Wales Department of Education. The program includes exhibitions, workshops and professional-learning opportunities in visual arts for teachers and students from all schools in NSW.
The Operation Art program invites students from years K-10 across NSW each year to create an artwork for their peers in hospital, to help brighten their day and uplift their spirits. In this touring exhibition, 50 works are selected to become part of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, brightening the environment and helping to lift the spirits of young patients through the healing power of art.
Lottie Consalvo, We hover above the ground in hope that we can float (image still from video), 2023, single channel video, duration: infinite
DANCE WITH ME DARLING VARIOUS
ARTISTS
Spanning moving image, sound, sculptural interventions and performance, Dance with Me Darling features contemporary artists from across Australia who all employ movement in their practice.
2026 ARTS HEALTH | FREE PROGRAM
Conversations:
ART & DEMENTIA
Conversations: Art & Dementia is a free 90 minute social tour of exhibitions created specifically for people living with dementia and their carers. The tours are guided by a trained facilitator who uses art as a gateway for conversation and self-expression, enabling visitors to express their thoughts and emotions in a friendly and supportive environment.
JANUARY
COMMUNITY
INFO SESSION
FRI 30, 10:30AM
FEBRUARY
THU 12, 10:30AM TUE 24, 2:00PM
MARCH
THU 12, 10:30AM TUE 31, 2:00PM
APRIL
THU 2, 10:30AM
TUE 28, 2:00PM
MAY
THU 14, 10:30AM TUE 26, 2:00PM
JUNE
THU 11, 10:30AM TUE 30, 2:00PM
JULY THU 2,10:30AM TUE 28, 2:00PM
AUGUST
THU 13, 10:30AM TUE 25, 2:00PM
SEPTEMBER
THU 10, 10:30AM TUE 22, 2:00PM
OCTOBER
THU 15, 10:30AM TUE 27, 2:00PM
NOVEMBER THU 12, 10:30AM TUE 24, 2:00PM
DECEMBER
THU 10, 10:30AM TUE 15, 2:00PM
Photo: Leighsa Cox
2026 SPECIAL PROGRAM
AUSLAN TOURS
Explore our exhibitions with our Gallery Guide and Auslan interpreter Karen Lantry, where you will learn more about the Gallery’s exhibitions and events along with fascinating stories about the artworks on display. Bring a friend or two for a relaxed social afternoon.
SATURDAY 21 MARCH
SATURDAY 15 AUGUST
SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER
Bookings Essential. Places limited. For more information about the exhibitions on display check our website mrag.org.au/exhibitions/current-future
Photo: Leighsa Cox
2026 KIDS & FAMILIES | FREE PROGRAM
CODE BREAKERS
Are you good at solving puzzles?
Do you think that you can locate some hidden treasures in the art gallery?
Then grab a Code Breaker from the front desk and use the clues to crack the code!
Photo: Leighsa Cox
2026 KIDS & FAMILIES | FREE PROGRAM
FREE ART SUNDAY
Sponsored by our Members & Cleverpatch
Free Art Sunday is designed to encourage parents and children to add to their experience of the gallery by accessing hands-on activities in a family-friendly environment.
Photo: Leighsa Cox
2026 FOR EVERYONE
SUMMER ART FEST
It’s a Summer Art Fest at Maitland regional art gallery this January! Come and enjoy creative experiences for audiences of all ages and abilities.
OPEN 7 DAYS THROUGHOUT JANUARY 9:00AM – 4:00PM
*EXCEPT PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Photo: Leighsa Cox
2026 YOUNG LGBTQIA+ | FREE PROGRAM
SPILLING THE TEA
Spilling The Tea is an art class for queer youth, creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering space for young LGBTQIA+ individuals to express themselves creatively and connect with community. Art has long been a powerful tool for self-exploration, resilience, and identity-building. For queer youth—who often face unique social and emotional challenges—these classes offer more than just artistic skills; they provide a means of affirmation and connection.
WEDNESDAY 21 JANUARY
SATURDAY 28 MARCH
WEDNESDAY 15 APRIL
SATURDAY 30 MAY
SATURDAY 27 JUNE
WEDNESDAY 15 JULY
SATURDAY 29 AUGUST
SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER
WEDNESDAY 7 OCTOBER
SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER
Ray Monde, Three Bells featuring Nell (detail), 2025, ghostworked collage and synthetic polymer paint on canvas on board
2026 TEENS | FREE PROGRAM
THE YOUNG ARCHITECTS
Sponsored by EJE Architecture
Many young people are curious about art, buildings, design and engineering. Our Young Architects program is an initiative aimed at nurturing creative design thinking with fun workshops led by a team of architects and artists. Free program. Bookings via the MRAG website
Photo: Newy Digital
2026 SCHOOL TERM
SCHOOL VISITS & WORKSHOPS
MRAG is a significant local resource valued by educators, not only for its exhibitions and art collection, but for its public spaces, big backyard and workshop facilities. We enjoy working with educators to create a gallery experience that meets the needs and interests of their students.
Education Mondays
The Gallery and Cafe are closed to the public on Mondays, but during each school term we welcome teachers and students for exclusive Gallery access, affordable workshops or self-directed activities. Students are also invited to have lunch or morning tea in our spacious backyard. To book your school or group visit, email artgallery@maitland.nsw.gov.au or call the Gallery on 02 4934 9859.
Photo: Jessica Ward
GALLERY STORE
Your one-stop destination for artisan gifts in the Lower Hunter
Whether you are shopping for a friend, for family or looking to spoil yourself, the Gallery Store has something for everyone. With over 500 unique items made by more than 100 Australian makers our shelves are stocked with jewellery, ceramics, glass, as well as an enviable range of books, cards and some easy gifting pieces just for fun!
Gallery Members enjoy 10% off, always. Vouchers and complimentary gift-wrapping available.
Products featured by: Henry & Tunks, Leiluca Ceramics, Cobalt & Kin, Will Maguire, and Hunter Valley Ceramics. Paper features The Beachgoer by Xander Holliday.
SÉRAPHINE CAFÉ
Open for breakfast, lunch, coffee and cakes.
Named after the 18th century French artist, Séraphine Café is a popular café at the rear of the Gallery including indoor dining and a stunning alfresco area surrounded by a boutique garden.
OPEN TUESDAY TO SUNDAY, 8.00AM — 2.00PM
Photo: Good Thanks Media
VENUE HIRE
Book an event to remember at Maitland Regional Art Gallery
The Gallery is an exciting, contemporary art and cultural destination and a dynamic venue for your special event.
Whether you are planning a meeting, presentation, product launch, cocktail party, ceremony or formal dinner, we have a variety of options to make your event memorable.
For more information, visit mrag.org.au/venue-hire
Photo: Leighsa Cox
BECOME A MEMBER
of Maitland Regional Art Gallery
Maitland Regional Art Gallery Members enjoy a range of benefits, including discounted tickets to our exhibitions and programs, and invitations to special Member events.
Become a Gallery Member and your contribution will help us deliver engaging education and Arts Health programs. Join our community today at mrag.org.au/become-a-member
Photo: Leighsa Cox
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF MRAG
Last year, Maitland Regional Art Gallery turned 50! What better way to celebrate than with a book that sparks imagination for artists young and old?
In the Making is a vibrant new publication from MRAG that invites readers to explore the Gallery’s collection in a fresh and hands-on way.
Created in-house by our talented MRAG team, this book brings together 14 loved works from the Gallery’s collection, each paired with an activity designed to encourage creativity, curiosity, and play.
From drawing and painting to collage, sculpture, and printmaking, every page offers a chance to not only learn about some of the great artists in our collection, but to also make your own art inspired by them.
It’s a creative companion, encouraging families, students, and children alike to see art not as something locked away in a gallery, but as something alive—an open invitation to make, imagine, and play.
Nell, Made in the Light Happy Cloud and Drips, 2011, LED lighting, Maitland Regional Art Gallery Collection, © Nell
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK
Maitland Regional Art Gallery is a service of Maitland City Council with funding of our artistic program through Create NSW. We thank all the artists who will make this program possible, filling the Gallery with insight, imagination and creative expertise.
We also acknowledge and tip our hats to our partners, funding bodies, members and volunteers.
To our friends and donors, we thank you–you make a vital contribution to the cultural landscape of our City.
Maitland Regional Art Gallery would like to thank Jennings Print Group for their generous support in the production of this program.
MAITLAND REGIONAL ART GALLERY
ART GALLERY & STORE
Tuesday – Sunday, 9.00am – 4.00pm
Address: 230 High Street, PO Box 220, Maitland, NSW, 2320
Phone: 02 4934 9859
Email: artgallery@maitland.nsw.gov.au
CAFÉ SÉRAPHINE
Tuesday – Sunday, 8.00am – 2.00pm Phone: 02 4934 7264
MRAG.ORG.AU
@maitlandregionalartgallery
@Maitland.Regional.Art.Gallery
#MRAG #MaitlandRegionalArtGallery