Newcastle Art Gallery has quietly settled into a strong run of shows this spring, and the best part is that most of it won't cost you anything. The gallery opened two Australian first exhibitions on 25 September as part of the New Annual 2026 festival, and both are still going, so there's plenty of time to catch them.
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The big draw is Angela Tiatia: Muse, the first major survey of the Newcastle-based artist, who's now recognised internationally. It pulls together more than two decades of work — video, photography and installation — and takes on climate, capitalism and colonisation. It runs until 7 February, so it's not going anywhere in a hurry. There's a ticket for it, though: A$20 for adults, A$18 concession, A$15 for tertiary students, A$8 for children and teens aged 5 to 17, A$50 for a family group of two adults and up to three children, and A$8 for Mobtix, with children under five free. A couple of things are worth knowing before you go: the exhibition includes low-level nudity, endurance performance using the body and depictions of tattooing.
Running alongside Muse and free to everyone is The Matildas, 2025, a 23-minute video portrait by Tiatia that captures all 23 players from the CommBank Matildas 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad, including Newcastle's own Emily van Egmond and Clare Wheeler. It was filmed across three continents, five cities and seven shoots, and was commissioned with funds from Tim Fairfax AC and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Like Muse, it stays until 7 February.
The other Australian first is A.A. Murakami: New Spring, the Australian debut of an immersive multisensory installation by the duo Azusa Murakami and Alexander Groves. Part of their Ephemeral Tech series, it features tree-like sculptures that release mist-filled bubbles or blossoms that float and dissolve, playing on the transience of existence and the symbolism of the sakura, the cherry blossom. It's free and runs until 31 January.
If you're passing by Darby Street, there's one more thing to see: a window commission by Hunter artist Indah Clark in the Learning Studio, a large graphic representation of a network of faces that stays put until 26 September 2027.
A bit of background helps put it all in context. The gallery started in 1957 in the War Memorial Cultural Centre after benefactor Roland Pope donated more than 100 works, moved to its current home in 1977, and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. General admission is free, though some special exhibitions and events carry a charge. It's open 10 am to 5 pm every day except Monday, and the whole place is fully accessible, with lift access to all levels, bench seating throughout and accessible toilets on the ground and first floors. The Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation, chaired by Suzie Galwey, is the gallery's main philanthropic supporter, and the Newcastle Art Gallery Society has more than 1,300 members. All in, it's an easy, free-ish day out in the city.
Published Date
14 October 2026
