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ARTEXPRESS 2026 Opens at the Art Gallery of New South Wales

ARTEXPRESS 2026 Opens at the Art Gallery of New South Wales

The Art Gallery of New South Wales presents ARTEXPRESS 2026, the highly anticipated annual exhibition showcasing exceptional artworks created by students who completed the 2025 Higher School Certificate (HSC) Visual Arts course. Now in its 43rd year at the Gallery, ARTEXPRESS continues to be one of Australia’s most significant exhibitions dedicated to emerging young artists.

ARTEXPRESS 2026 Opens at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Installation view of 'ARTEXPRESS 2026' at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 5 February – 26 April 2026, artworks © the artists, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Felicity Jenkins

The 2026 exhibition features the work of 51 student artists, selected from an impressive cohort of 9,074 HSC Visual Arts students across government and non-government schools throughout regional, metropolitan and remote New South Wales. Launching with a special ceremony for artists and their families, ARTEXPRESS offers a compelling snapshot of the ideas, interests and perspectives shaping young Australian creatives today.

ARTEXPRESS 2026 Opens at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Installation view of 'ARTEXPRESS 2026' at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 5 February – 26 April 2026, artworks © the artists, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Felicity Jenkins

ARTEXPRESS 2026 reveals deeply personal artistic explorations, with students examining themes such as identity, culture, family relationships, social change and the environment. The works reflect both individual storytelling and broader social conversations, demonstrating thoughtful engagement with the issues that matter to young people. Visitors will encounter artworks that combine strong conceptual thinking with remarkable technical skill and creative ambition.

ARTEXPRESS 2026 Opens at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Mahli Farrell, Central Coast Grammar School 'Everything I Cannot Hold' (detail), drawing charcoal on paper © the artist, photo: Robert Edwards

A wide range of expressive forms from the HSC Visual Arts curriculum are represented throughout the exhibition. These include ceramics, drawing, graphic design, painting, photomedia, printmaking, sculpture, textiles and fibre, documented forms, collections of works and time-based media. Together, they highlight the diversity of contemporary artistic practice and the strength of visual arts education across New South Wales.

ARTEXPRESS 2026 Opens at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Boris Boyuan Zhang, Sydney Boys High School 'The Flicker Adrift in Electric Blue' (detail), photomedia, printed digital photographs © the artist, photo: Robert Edwards

In a significant first, ARTEXPRESS 2026 is presented within the Gallery’s Naala Badu building, with works displayed in the Neilson Family Gallery. This new setting places the achievements of student artists in dialogue with leading contemporary art, reinforcing the importance of young voices within Australia’s cultural landscape. 

ARTEXPRESS 2026 is now on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until 26 April 2026, with free entry for all visitors. Following its Sydney presentation, the exhibition will tour multiple regional galleries across New South Wales, ensuring wider audiences can experience the creativity and innovation of the state’s next generation of artists.

ARTEXPRESS 2026 Opens at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Amy Chen, North Sydney Girls High School 'Three Tangerines Tall' (detail), painting, oil on wood, acrylic and oil on board © the artist, photo: Robert Edwards

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

DATE: 4 FEB – 18 OCT 2026
EXHIBITION LOCATIONS
Art Gallery of New South Wales – 4 February – 26 April 2026
Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Gymea — 9 February to 12 April 2026
Maitland Regional Art Gallery — 21 February to 19 April 2026
Broken Hill City Art Gallery — 1 May to 26 July 2026
Glasshouse Regional Gallery, Port Macquarie — 9 May to 19 July 2026
Wagga Wagga Art Gallery — 23 May to 26 July 2026
Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo — 15 August to 4 October
Bondi Pavilion Gallery — 24 August to 24 October 2026
Hawkesbury Regional Gallery — 28 August to 18 October 2026
PRICE: FREE
WEBSITE

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