Artists announced for The National 4: Australian Art Now

Sydney’s largest biennial survey of contemporary Australian Art, The National will take over four of the city’s major cultural  institutions – Art Gallery of NSW, Carriageworks, MCA Australia and Campbelltown Art Centre. 53 artists and collectives have been announced for the event’s fourth iteration, which will run from March to July 2023.

The National 4: Australian Art Now is curated by Beatrice Gralton at the Art Gallery of NSW, Emily Rolfe at Campbelltown Arts Centre, Freja Carmichael and Aarna Fitzgerald Hanley at Carriageworks, and Jane Devery at MCA Australia.

The National 4 at MCA Australia includes 13 artists and 2 collectives curated by

The exhibition at MCA Australia reflects how artists are imagining new ways of seeing and being in the world at a time of unprecedented change,” says Jane Devery, Senior Curator, Exhibitions at MCA, which is presenting 13 artists and two collectives for The National 4. “Their works invite contemplation and conversation across a range of experimental, process-based and socially engaged practices.”

Fourteen artists will be on display at the Art Gallery of NSW, and for the first time at the Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills. Senior Curator of the Brett Whiteley Studio, Beatrice Gralton, says: “The exhibition reflects the vitality and diversity of Australian art being made today. There is a strong interest in narrative and the important role that artists play in probing histories to understand, question and redefine our contemporary experience.”

Participating artists and collectives are:

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Abdul Abdullah (NSW)

Brenda L Croft (ACT/NT)

Robert Fielding (SA)

Madeleine Kelly (NSW)

Glen Mackie Kei Kelak (QLD)

Pierre Mukeba (SA)

Nabilah Nordin (VIC)

Thea Anamara Perkins (NSW)

Reko Rennie (VIC)

David Sequeira (VIC)

Esther Stewart (VIC)

Heather B Swann (TAS)

Natasha Walsh (NSW) at the Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills

Gerry Wedd (SA)

Campbelltown Arts Centre

Isabel & Alfredo Aquilizan (QLD/Philippines)

Brook Andrew (NSW/VIC)

Christopher Bassi (QLD)

Lynda Draper (NSW)

Jumaadi (NSW/Indonesia)

Shivanjani Lal (NSW)

Julian Martin (VIC)

Yabini Kickett artist project with Sharyn Egan and Ilona McGuire (WA)

Carriageworks

Susan Balbunga (NT)

Frances Barrett (SA)

Elizabeth Day (NSW/TAS)

Nicole Foreshew (NSW)

Heather Koowootha (QLD)

Jo Lloyd (VIC)

Naminapu Maymuru-White (NT)

Jason Phu (NSW)

Teho Ropeyarn (QLD)

Erika Scott (QLD)

Katie West (WA)

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Hoda Afshar (VIC)

Daniel Boyd (NSW)

Eugene Carchesio (QLD)

Allison Chhorn (SA)

Léuli Eshrāghi (QLD/Canada)

Diena Georgetti (VIC)

Simryn Gill (NSW)

Ivi (QLD/Aotearoa/Tonga)

Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association (NT)

Mia Salsjö (VIC)

Kieren Seymour (VIC)

Nicholas Smith (VIC/USA)

Isabelle Sully (VIC/The Netherlands)

Amanda Williams (NSW)

Rudi Williams (VIC)