Nolan: Origins at Art Gallery of New South Wales

Sidney Nolan ‘Ned Kelly’ 1946
Exterior view of Naala Nura
Sidney Nolan 'Self portrait' 1943
Exterior Naala Nura building, Art Gallery of NSW
Visitors outside the Naala Badu building
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Gallery showing 5 of 7 images, 2 more available

About

A journey through the landscapes and stories of iconic Australian artist Sidney Nolan.

Experience the astounding creativity and poetic power of Sidney Nolan's art in this in-depth survey of the artist's formative years in Australia. From indelible visions of the outlaw Ned Kelly to epic portrayals of Central Australia, Nolan redefined perceptions of place and nation in Australia's cultural imagination.

Including his famous series of paintings on bushranger Ned Kelly (1946–47), the exhibition brings together over 150 major works produced before Nolan relocated to the United Kingdom in 1953 – years in which he forged a reputation as one of this country's most distinctive modernist artists.

Nolan: Origins examines the artist's engagement with the places he painted as he evolved his singular, enigmatic visual language, including St Kilda, Wimmera, K'gari (also known as Fraser Island), Central Australia and the landscapes of Ned Kelly's story in north-eastern Victoria.

The exhibition also tells of how Nolan interrogated the idea of 'Australia', invoking a sense of place through myths, histories, people and creatures imbued with his own personal inner meanings.

Bundle with an Australian Art Stories Tour or lunch at Crafted by Matt Moran or MOD Dining for the most immersive experience at Art Gallery of New South Wales.

What's Available

17 features
Australian Tourism Export Council

When

135 Dates
Tue, 13 Oct 2026
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wed, 14 Oct 2026
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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Price range

From $10 To $80 per person

Where you'll be

Art Gallery Road

Sydney NSW 2000