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The Balnaves Contemporary Series

Photo of a woman standing inside a hot air balloon

Key information

Launched in 2018, The Balnaves Contemporary Series is a commissioning platform that enables artists to create new work. The Series is delivered in partnership with The Balnaves Foundation.

  • The Balnaves Foundation Visit the website for The Balnaves Foundation
Colourful geometric work of art created in light is projected onto the brutalist concrete architecture of the National Gallery

Daniel Crooks Structured light 2022, Commissioned for The Balnaves Contemporary Series for Enlighten Festival, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra

Daniel Crooks: Structured light
Enlighten Festival
2022

An illumination on the National Gallery’s façade for the 2022 Enlighten Festival.

Exhibition Site
A work on paper, a map outline of Queensland with the outline of the profile of a woman's head overlayed

Judy Watson, Waanyi people, joyce with queensland tenure map, 2021, Commissioned as part of The Balnaves Contemporary Series, © Judy Watson/Copyright Agency

Judy Watson and Helen Johnson: the red thread of history, loose ends
2022

Work by two of Australia’s leading artists presented in conversation.

Exhibition Site
Photograph of the launch of Skywhales with people seated in foreground

Skywhale and Skywhalepapa at the first launch in Canberra.

Patricia Piccinini's Skywhales: Every heart sings
2020/21

Sculptures in the form of hot-air balloons.

Exhibition Site Learning Resource
Brightly coloured objects hang from the ceiling of a largo foyer

Installation view of Sarah Contos, Nikola Tesla sends Theda Bara to Mars, 2017-18, commissioned with the assistance of The Balnaves Foundation 2017, purchased 2018, courtesy of the artist; Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney and STATION, Melbourne

Sarah Contos: Nikola Tesla sends Theda Bara to Mars
2018

An installation of suspended textiles and fleshy sculptural forms.

Exhibition Site Learning Resource
Futuristic staircase digital world

Jess Johnson and Simon Ward, Terminus, still image of Fleshold. Courtesy of the artists; Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney; Ivan Anthony Gallery, Auckland and Jack Hanley Gallery, New York

Jess Johnson & Simon Ward: Terminus
2018

A virtual reality experience in five parts.

Exhibition Site Learning Resource

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Yuuma, Gurruburri

The National Gallery acknowledges the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the Kamberri/Canberra region, and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country.

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The National Gallery acknowledges the First Peoples of this land and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country

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