Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

On Saturday night we rolled out the black carpet to host our annual fundraiser, the 2024 MCA Artists Ball! This year we celebrated acclaimed Australian artist, Shaun Gladwell and raised much-needed funds for our artistic, learning and access programs.     A huge thank you to the MCA Artists Ball Committee led by MCA Chair Lorraine Tarabay, MC Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, auctioneer extraordinaire Monika Tu, artists who donated their work (Shaun Gladwell, Danie Mellor, Jonny Niesche, Michael Zavros, Nell, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Tony Albert), performers including Ngaiire and Aphir, sponsors Black Diamondz Group, Conquest Capital Investments, Pallion, event partners The Big Group and AV1, wine partner Mount Pleasant Wines, champagne partner VRANKEN-POMMERY MONOPOLE, and all our generous supporters for helping create such a memorable night.    —    Images: MCA Artists Ball 2024, photography: Gabrielle Clement, Jake Scevola and Lucas Jarvis 

‘Hauntingly beautiful, Isaac Julien’s installation at the MCA is a must-see' – The Sydney Morning Herald   ‘Isaac Julien: Once Again... (Statues Never Die)’, is a five-screen black-and-white installation film about the relationship and correspondence between art collector Albert C. Barnes (1872–1951) and prominent philosopher, educator and cultural leader Alain Locke (1885–1954).    Staring actor André Holland (‘Moonlight’, ‘Passing’) as Alain Locke, Danny Huston (‘Succession’, ‘Marlowe)’ as Dr. Barnes, rising star Devon Terrell as sculptor Richmond Barthé, and Sharlene Whyte (‘Small Axe’, ‘Lessons of the Hour’) as the curator. The installation also features a special appearance by singer and songwriter Alice Smith.    Free admission, Level 1 https://lnkd.in/gRw2aBqb —    Photo: Isaac Julien, ‘Once Again… (Statues Never Die)’, 2022, installation view, ‘Isaac Julien: Once Again… (Statues Never Die)’, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney 2024, image courtesy Isaac Julien and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, © the artist, photograph: Zan Wimberley 

We’re excited to announce UK artist Thomas J Price as the recipient of the inaugural Neil Balnaves Tallawoladah Lawn Commission with a new work to be unveiled in Spring 2025.        This is the first contemporary sculptural commission for the iconic Tallawoladah Lawn in front of the Museum overlooking Warrane, Sydney Harbour, to be presented annually over the next three years.      Price is renowned for his large-scale sculptural works of fictional figures which frame the ordinary as the extraordinary and celebrate individuals engaged in everyday activity. His works challenge the perception of traditional public monuments commemorating historical figures, and often disrupt Western traditions to elevate the everyday lives of people of colour.     ‘For me, sculpture is about understanding your environment and your place in space, your connection to others and capacity for empathy.’ - Thomas J Price     The Neil Balnaves Tallawoladah Lawn Commission is named in honour of Australian philanthropist Neil Balnaves AO (1944–2022) and made possible by the generous support of The Balnaves Foundation.      —     Photos: Installation view, ‘Thomas J Price. Thoughts Unseen’, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, 2022, courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, Photo: Ken Adlard; Thomas J Price, Image courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, © the artist, photograph: Ollie Adegboye #MCAAustralia  

Thank you to the incredible artists who have donated work to our auction to support the MCA’s major annual fundraising event, MCA Artists Ball, on 19 October. This year the event will be honouring celebrated Australian artist, Shaun Gladwell. Special mention to the following artists and gallerists for their support. Artists: Shaun Gladwell, Danie Mellor, Jonny Niesche, Michael Zavros, Nell, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Tony Albert Gallerists: PALAS, Sydney, STATION Gallery Australia, Sullivan + Strumpf Fine Art, Tolarno Galleries, 1301SW, Melbourne and Sydney — Photos: Shaun Gladwell, ‘Ali Into Red’, 2011, image courtesy the artist and PALAS, Sydney; Danie Mellor, ‘On the edge of light’, 2023, image courtesy the artist and Tolarno Galleries; Nell, ‘The ghost who walks will never die (sunshine #9)’, 2024, image courtesy the artist and STATION, photo: Jenni Carter; Michael Zavros, ‘Saint Cloud (after Atget)’, 2024, image courtesy the artist; Jonny Niesche, ‘Heatwave vision’, 2024, image courtesy the artist and 1301SW, Melbourne and Sydney and Starkwhite, Auckland; Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, ‘Gold Figure with Spiky Head’, 2024, image courtesy the artist and Sullivan+Strumpf; Tony Albert, ‘Unpacking History (Dispel)’, 2024, image courtesy the artist and Sullivan+Strumpf All images © the artists

Canvas Restaurant is now open.   Located on Level 4 of the Museum, experience the MCA’s newly transformed space alongside a seasonal Chef-in-Residence, opening with guest chef Josh Raine.   Canvas is open Wednesday – Sunday for lunch, joining the MCA Cafe at Tallawoladah which is open daily, Monday Friday (7am – 5pm) and weekends (9am – 5pm).   The Loti Smorgon Sculpture Terrace on Level 4 remains open for everyone to enjoy the MCA's sculpture commissions and elevated Sydney Harbour views. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ghiwJ_ck

New York-based artist Julie Mehretu, set to unveil a major exhibition at the MCA this summer, has been commissioned to create an 83-foot-tall installation for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. 'Uprising of the Sun' will be Mehretu's first work made with glass and is inspired by President Obama’s remarks at the 50th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery, which took place in 2015. Learn more about this extraordinary commission, with thanks to our friends at the Obama Foundation. Tickets to ‘Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory’ are on sale now. Receive 20% off tickets until 31 October. Head here to book: https://lnkd.in/gR5564sj #JulieMehretu #MCAAustralia — Video credit: Obama Foundation

Last night we celebrated the opening of 'Isaac Julien: Once Again... (Statues Never Die)'. With the artist Isaac Julien himself present, we were treated to a special night with a stunning performance by American singer and songwriter Alice Smith who features in the work, accompanied by Dennis Hamm on piano. 'Isaac Julien: Once Again... (Statues Never Die)' is open now. Entry is free. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gcXjZ_TW With thanks to Presenting Exhibition Patrons Roslyn Oxley OAM and Tony Oxley OAM, and Adrian and Charlotte MacKenzie; Major Exhibition Patrons Judy Friend OAM, and Amanda and Andrew Love; and Supporting Exhibition Patron Victoria Taylor. Photography: Jacquie Manning

Tickets for our summer exhibition ‘Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory’ are now on sale. Exclusive to Sydney, this major career survey of New York-based artist Julie Mehretu is presented as part of the Sydney International Art Series 2024–25. Renowned for her monumental works informed by histories of art and architecture, Mehretu powerfully unravels concepts such as revolution, migration and climate change. Mehretu has exhibited extensively at major institutions across the US, UK and Europe and was named one of the 100 most influential people by TIME magazine in 2020. Most recently Mehretu has been commissioned to create an 83-foot-tall glass mural for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. ‘One of today's most original and thought-provoking painters...’ – The New York Times Tickets are available now. MCA Members and under 17s are free. Book now: https://lnkd.in/gR5564sj — Image: Julie Mehretu, image courtesy and © Julie Mehretu, photograph: Josefina Santos Proudly supported by Strategic Sponsor Destination NSW, Major Partner Telstra and Media Partner Guardian Australia. We gratefully acknowledge the support of principal exhibition patrons Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen and Marc Andreessen; and Lorraine Tarabay and Nick Langley; and major exhibition patrons White Cube, and GRANTPIRRIE Private. #JulieMehretu #MCAAustralia #FeelNewSydney

‘He meticulously captures work again and again, documenting, analysing and recreating pieces repeatedly. Each work becomes a part of a greater experiment, a cog in Sugimoto’s conceptual machine.’ Thank you Head On Foundation for the great review of ‘Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Machine’. https://lnkd.in/gybhW-Qa ‘Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Machine’, runs until 27 October. Visit on Wednesday mornings to access 2 for 1 tickets (available for onsite purchase between 10am – 12pm only). Book now: https://lnkd.in/gbEfw9Qg — Hiroshi Sugimoto, 'Opticks 064', 2018, chromogenic print, image courtesy and © Hiroshi Sugimoto

Don't miss an exceptional chance to hear from one of Britain's most influential and critically acclaimed contemporary artists, Sir Isaac Julien. On the opening weekend of ‘Once Again... (Statues Never Die)’, join the artist in conversation with ABC presenter and artist Daniel Browning as they discuss his work, career and latest immersive five-screen black-and-white installation film. Sat 28 Sep 2–3pm Lecture Theatre, Level 2 Book your ticket: https://bit.ly/3TyPtNO — ⁣ ⁣ Photos: Sir Isaac Julien, photograph: Tim Walker; Daniel Browning, photograph: Noble Savage Pictures/Kelly Gardner.