Art & Artists

About the Collection

The National Gallery’s evolving collection of over 155,000 works of art, created by more than 15,000 artists, includes the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. The collection represents the whole of Australian art, modern art worldwide, particularly from Europe and America and art from across Asia and the Pacific.

Highlights

Exhibitions

First Nations

The Aboriginal Memorial

The Aboriginal Memorial is an installation of 200 hollow log coffins commemorating all First Nations people who, since 1788, have lost their lives.
Collection

Australian Art

Ongoing

In recognition of the National Gallery’s 40th anniversary, this major display tells wide-ranging and complex stories of Australian art.
Collection

Worldwide

Ongoing

This major display, drawn from the collection, is inspired by the National Gallery's founding history.

Projects & Initiatives

Linda Marrinon in UAP foundry working on Woman in jumpsuit, 2022, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Commissioned with the generous support of Art Makers. Photos courtesy of UAP.

Art Makers x National Gallery

Sarah Lucas, TITTIPUSSIDAD, 2018, installation view, Project 1: Sarah Lucas, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 2021 © the artist

The Project Series

A woman is sitting in font of a large wall of many portraits in a large gallery space — Installation view of Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now – Part 1

A large crowd watches two large hot-air balloons in the shape of skywhales float above the ground in the early morning — Patricia Piccinini's Skywhale, 2013, gift of anonymous donor 2019, donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program; and Skywhalepapa 2020, commissioned with the assistance of The Balnaves Foundation 2019, purchased 2020 © Patricia Piccinini at their first flight together in Canberra, 2021

The Balnaves Contemporary Series

Photograph of conservator and director gesturing to painting under restoration — Conservator David Wise working on Jackson Pollock, Blue poles, 1952, purchased 1973 © Pollock-Krasner Foundation. ARS/Copyright Agency

Conserving Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles

Artist Interviews