Fiona Foley: Who are these strangers and where are they going?

Fiona Foley: Who are these strangers and where are they going?

by Danielle Neely

FIONA FOLEY: WHO ARE THESE STRANGERS AND WHERE ARE THEY GOING?

EXHIBITION DATES: Thursday 9 January — Saturday 8 February 2020
EXHIBITION LOCATION: NAS Gallery
OPENING NIGHT: Wednesday 8 January, 6–9pm
OPENING HOURS: Monday–Saturday, 11am–5pm
CURATOR: Djon Mundine OAM

We are open SUNDAY 26 JANUARY, 11am–5pm

As part of the 2020 Sydney Festival, the National Art School proudly presents Who are these strangers and where are they going?, a 30-year survey of the work of Dr Fiona Foley, one of Australia’s most acclaimed, insightful and challenging contemporary artists, curated by Djon Mundine OAM. Running from January 8 to February 8 in the National Art School Gallery, the show premiered in August 2019 at the Ballarat International Foto Biennale in Victoria. The title comes from a new work, a soundscape based on the oldest known Aboriginal song documenting the first sighting of Captain Cook in 1770, by Foley’s ancestors the Badtjala people of K’gari (Fraser Island).

Image: Fiona Foley, HHH #1 (detail) 2004, Hahnemühle Archival Inkjet Print, 76 x 101 cm. Courtesy the artist and Niagara Galleries, Melbourne

On Thursday 9 January, Dr Fiona Foley sat down with curator Djon Mundine in the NAS Gallery for an In Conversation event. Read more through the link below.

Karatsu ceramicist Yukiko Tsuchiya (@tsuchiyayukiko) and curator Kathryn Hunyor (@artspeople_au) delivered two very special workshops in the teaching studios of the Ceramics Department at the National Art School (NAS), in an exciting collaboration between The Japan Foundation (@jpfsydney), Sydney, the NAS Ceramics Department and the National Art School.

Peek inside the wheel-throwing and hand-coiling masterclasses that took place.

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Sep 14

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Karatsu ceramicist Yukiko Tsuchiya (@tsuchiyayukiko) and curator Kathryn Hunyor (@artspeople_au) delivered two very special workshops in the teaching studios of the Ceramics Department at the National Art School (NAS), in an exciting collaboration between The Japan Foundation (@jpfsydney), Sydney, the NAS Ceramics Department and the National Art School.

Peek inside the wheel-throwing and hand-coiling masterclasses that took place.

If you are visiting Sydney Contemporary art fair today, keep an eye out for the many artworks on display by our extraordinary alumni. These are just a handful to spot. 1. Kirtika Kain at Roslyn Oxley9 2. Catherine O’Donnell at Dominik Mersch Gallery 3. Oliver Abbott at Dominik Mersch Gallery 4. Eliza Gosse at Edwina Corlette Gallery 5. Mirra Whale at Mitchell Fine Art 6. Erin Murphy at Velvet Lobster.

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Sep 14

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If you are visiting Sydney Contemporary art fair today, keep an eye out for the many artworks on display by our extraordinary alumni. These are just a handful to spot. 1. Kirtika Kain at Roslyn Oxley9 2. Catherine O’Donnell at Dominik Mersch Gallery 3. Oliver Abbott at Dominik Mersch Gallery 4. Eliza Gosse at Edwina Corlette Gallery 5. Mirra Whale at Mitchell Fine Art 6. Erin Murphy at Velvet Lobster.

NAS Fellow Guido Maestri (@_guido_maestri) opens his solo exhibition, `Buoy,` at Ames Yavuz. Inspired by the landscapes of Pittwater and Ku-ring-gai National Park, the show marks a new evolution in the artist`s work. The exhibition continues until September 27.

Congratulations to NAS Alumna Johanna Ng (@johanna__ng) for winning the 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize for her work, `a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd`.

The 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize is made possible by the Australian Photographic Society (@austphotosoc) in partnership with the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre (@muswellbrookartscentre), and with the support of Bengalla Mining Company, MACH Energy, Malabar Resources and AGL.

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1) Guido Maestri, `Whole sound`, 2025, oil on linen, 152 x 183 cm, courtesy of the artist and Ames Yavuz (@amesyavuz).

2) Johanna Ng, ‘a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd’ 2024, inkjet print on cotton rag, inkjet print on clear film, 59.4 x 80.5cm, courtesy of the artist and MCPP

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Sep 12

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NAS Fellow Guido Maestri (@_guido_maestri) opens his solo exhibition, 'Buoy,' at Ames Yavuz. Inspired by the landscapes of Pittwater and Ku-ring-gai National Park, the show marks a new evolution in the artist's work. The exhibition continues until September 27.

Congratulations to NAS Alumna Johanna Ng (@johanna__ng) for winning the 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize for her work, 'a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd'.

The 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize is made possible by the Australian Photographic Society (@austphotosoc) in partnership with the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre (@muswellbrookartscentre), and with the support of Bengalla Mining Company, MACH Energy, Malabar Resources and AGL.

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1) Guido Maestri, 'Whole sound', 2025, oil on linen, 152 x 183 cm, courtesy of the artist and Ames Yavuz (@amesyavuz).

2) Johanna Ng, ‘a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd’ 2024, inkjet print on cotton rag, inkjet print on clear film, 59.4 x 80.5cm, courtesy of the artist and MCPP

Sydney Contemporary is now open!

We’re thrilled to welcome you to Booth J12, where we are showcasing the work of nine emerging artists and alumni, including Jake Bartley @_trizm__, Christian Bonett @christian_bonett_art, Harrison Chao @w4r.h4mm3r, Lewis Doherty @lewisstepsandrew, Isabella Kennedy @isa.kennedy, Rachel Mackay @rachelmackay.art, Megan McKenzie @megan_mckenzie_, Johanna Ng @johanna__ng, and Taylor Steel @taylor__steel.

Sydney Contemporary is on until Sunday 14 September 2025 at Carriageworks — we look forward to seeing you there!

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Sep 11

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Sydney Contemporary is now open!

We’re thrilled to welcome you to Booth J12, where we are showcasing the work of nine emerging artists and alumni, including Jake Bartley @_trizm__, Christian Bonett @christian_bonett_art, Harrison Chao @w4r.h4mm3r, Lewis Doherty @lewisstepsandrew, Isabella Kennedy @isa.kennedy, Rachel Mackay @rachelmackay.art, Megan McKenzie @megan_mckenzie_, Johanna Ng @johanna__ng, and Taylor Steel @taylor__steel.

Sydney Contemporary is on until Sunday 14 September 2025 at Carriageworks — we look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Open Day last Saturday! Don’t forget: applications for the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) round close on Friday 3 October.

We have more in-person and online info sessions coming up. Sign up via link in bio to find out what makes NAS different from all other Fine Art degrees or receive one-on-one feedback on your portfolio from a member of the NAS Academic Team.

Image credit: Nicole Anderson (@nicoleandersonphotography)

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Sep 9

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Thank you to everyone who joined us for Open Day last Saturday! Don’t forget: applications for the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) round close on Friday 3 October.

We have more in-person and online info sessions coming up. Sign up via link in bio to find out what makes NAS different from all other Fine Art degrees or receive one-on-one feedback on your portfolio from a member of the NAS Academic Team.

Image credit: Nicole Anderson (@nicoleandersonphotography)

The National Art School is seeking an experienced Exhibitions Officer with strong attention to detail to join the NAS Gallery Team.

As Exhibitions Officer, you’ll be a key operational support to the NAS Gallery team, helping deliver a vibrant program of exhibitions, talks, and events. You’ll coordinate volunteers, maintain gallery presentation standards, assist with production and publications, and contribute to audience engagement aligned with the School’s strategic goals.

To learn more about the position and to apply, visit nas.edu.au (link in bio).

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Sep 8

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The National Art School is seeking an experienced Exhibitions Officer with strong attention to detail to join the NAS Gallery Team.

As Exhibitions Officer, you’ll be a key operational support to the NAS Gallery team, helping deliver a vibrant program of exhibitions, talks, and events. You’ll coordinate volunteers, maintain gallery presentation standards, assist with production and publications, and contribute to audience engagement aligned with the School’s strategic goals.

To learn more about the position and to apply, visit nas.edu.au (link in bio).