Culture Fix: The Best Art Exhibitions in Sydney in 2024
Craving some culture? These are the best art exhibitions in Sydney.
It should come as no surprise that we love living in Sydney. From stunning natural beauty, killer cafe culture and, slowly but surely, a reemerging nightlife. Beyond the bars and beaches though, there is a thriving arts and cultural scene, and our art galleries and museums are among the best in the world.
Whether you're looking for a fun rainy-day activity or want to support local artists, these are the best art exhibitions in Sydney to check out in 2024.
What Does the Jukebox Dream Of?
Step back in time for a dose of nostalgia across the ages... with an eerie twist. What Does the Jukebox Dream Of showcases everything from video game joysticks and VHS tapes, reimagined.
The exhibition highlight, Susan Hiller’s Die gedanken sind frei (Thoughts are Free), features a customised Wurlitzer jukebox playing over 100 revolutionary anthems, which you can select from to soundtrack your experience. From 16th-century ballads to contemporary rap, this exhibition disrupts technological advancement and celebrates repurposing obsolete tech in imaginative, fascinating ways.
9th March - 17th November, 2024
Naala Badu, North Building, Lower Level 2, Art Gallery of NSW
Julie Rrap: Past Continuous
Expertly curated by Lucy Latella, Past Continous features iconic installations and new work from leading contemporary artist, Julie Rrap. The Australian artist uses photography, video, painting, performance and sculpture to explore how the body is represented and perceived, often using her own body in art.
Using her camera as a feminist tool, Rrap explores themes of visibility and agency, with her ageing body the subject of the latest works, confronting how society views, or avoids, certain bodies over time.
Running until 16th February 2025
Museum of Contemporary Art, 140 George Street, The Rocks
Angelica Mesiti: The Rites of When
On display in a former wartime oil bunker beneath Naalu Badu at the Art Gallery of NSW, Angelica Mestiti's The Rites of When is a large-scale, immersive experience using video and sound installations.
This work explores collective rituals tied to seasonal cycles, reimaging how communities connect to nature during times of environmental uncertainty. Reflecting on celebrations like solstice carnivals and harvest festivals, Mesiti uses choreography, vocal performances and sound to blend past and present and fully immerse the viewer in this world of exploration.
21st September 2024 to 11th May 2025
Naala Badu, North Building, Lower Level 2, Art Gallery of NSW
Sydney International Art Series 2024-25
If you love the arts, don't miss out on a ticket to the Sydney International Art Series 2024-25. Your pass will give you access to the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art to discover the three exclusive exhibitions from acclaimed international artists that make up the art series.
Starting at MCA and in an Australian-first, explore more than 80 paintings and works dating from 1995 to today from American artist Julie Mehretu. Named one of Time Magazine's '100 Most Influential People in 2020' you can expect to feel the energy and urgency of her work.
At the Art Gallery of NSW, explore the largest exhibition in Australia of the work of Cao Fei, with My City is Yours. Voted one of the world's most influential artists, Fei documents China's rapid digital revolutions. Expect a neon world filled with both realistic and warped street dance and pop music in the constructed cityscape.
From there, the recognisable, realistic paintings of everyday objects by Belgian artist René Magritte can be admired, with rarely seen works across his career from the 1920s to the 1960s making their way to Australia for the first time.
Julie Mehretu - 29th November 2024 to 27th April 2025
René Magritte - 26th October 2024 to 9th February 2025
Cao Fei - 30th November 2024 to 13th April 2025
Cast in cast out
Cast in cast out is the moving exhibition inspired by Dennis Golding's childhood in 'The Block,' an Aboriginal community in Redfern, Sydney. A proud Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist, Golding breathes new life into Redfern's recognisable Victorian-era ironwork panels, infusing them with contemporary narratives of power and ownership.
Suspended in a dance of form and shadow, his sculptural pieces challenge colonial symbols, casting a vivid commentary on division and control. Fragments seem to float, embodying Golding's quest to reclaim and transform colonial constructs. His presence, captured in a self-portrait, draws visitors into dialogue.
Running until November 17th, 2024
Museum of Sydney, Corner of Phillip and Bridge Street, Sydney
Coomaditchie: The Art of Place
Discover life within a coastal community with Coomaditchie: The Art of Place at the Museum of Sydney. First Nations artists share their vibrant culture through paintings, ceramics, and screen-prints, illuminating Coomaditchie's history, ecology, and Dreaming stories.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation, the exhibition reveals the settlement's evolution at Coomaditchie Lagoon in Wollongong. Original documents and a film uncover its social and political journey, while showcasing the artists' impact across the Illawarra.
From public spaces to galleries, their work is captured in stunning photographs.
Running to February 2nd, 2025
Museum of Sydney, Corner of Phillip and Bridge Street, Sydney
Wentworth Galleries
The bright and bold world of Australian contemporary and Aboriginal art at Wentworth Galleries is open to the public across two CBD locations. Showcasing art inspired by national and global events, the gallery offers year-round access to stunning works, with additional exhibitions popping up throughout the year.
Permanent displays feature expressive pieces perfect for art enthusiasts seeking a pop of colour. Commercially available, these artworks beckon those ready to invest in Australia's contemporary art scene.
Find luminous still lifes by Jacqueline Fowler and breathtaking landscapes by Ken Knight or Ted Lewis. This art spans various mediums and is the place for those ready to up their art game.
175 Pitt Street, Sydney
61 Phillip Street, Sydney
Are you inspired by our edit of the best art exhibitions in Sydney and keen to try your hand at a creative hobby? Check out our list of the best creative classes, to help you upskill, or head to the best markets in Sydney to pick up some supplies.
