The Art Gallery of Western Australia - AGWA

30/05/2026

AGWA was absolutely alive last weekend.

Our sold-out ‘The West Australian Pulse Fashion Show’ lit up the Gallery with bold ideas, fearless creativity, and the unmistakable energy of WA’s next generation of designers.

From North Metropolitan TAFE, South Metropolitan TAFE and Curtin University, these emerging voices took to the runway — not just showcasing fashion, but stepping into their future.

This was more than a show. It was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a creative community comes together to uplift, mentor and champion new talent.
Guided by Design Store curators Leith Groves & Rob Marshall, and supported by incredible industry leaders — Christine Fox (Vivien's Model Management), Pauline McCabe (Rock Paper Scissors) and makeup artist Manuao TeAotonga — the night was a true collaboration.

Over 120 volunteers helped bring this vision to life — from designers and student models to backstage teams, stylists, hair and makeup students, illustrators and event crew.

To everyone who played a part: thank you for shaping the future of WA fashion.

NMT Fashion and Textile Design
South Metro TAFE makeup team
Vanita clothing

📸 T.Le Photography and Rift Photography

27/05/2026

This National Reconciliation Week, we honour the theme ‘All In’—a call to step off the sidelines and walk together toward meaningful change.

First Nations artists have long been all in, sharing lived experience, speaking truth, and using art to be seen and heard, and to push for change.

Their work holds history, affirms connection to Country, and invites us to engage, not just observe.

As artist Mervin Street shares:
“This is my story about working in the cattle station… learning cattle work in the Kimberley on my Country… Early days, old people didn’t know station animals. I am bringing this history and what we saw in my generation to the public.”

Connect with more stories at I AM this Reconciliation Week. ‘I AM’ is grounded in First Nations peoples’ right to share their culture and decide how their lives, lands, and stories are represented. On show now, at AGWA. Learn more via https://bit.ly/40Nkd0M

Reconciliation Australia

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Mervyn Street. Droving cattle in the summertime, 2018. Shaved and etched cow hide, 195.5 x 217.5 cm. Purchased 2019. © Mervyn Street / Copyright Agency

Mervyn Street. Sheep station story, 2018. Synthetic polymer paint and leather ink on sheep hide, 99.5 x 107 cm. Purchased 2019. © Mervyn Street / Copyright Agency

John Prince Siddon. My last muster, 2018. Synthetic polymer paint on cow hide, 95.5 x 193 cm. The State Art Collection, The Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased 2019. © John Prince Siddon / Copyright Agency

All artworks are from The State Art Collection, The Art Gallery of Western Australia.

26/05/2026

26/05/2026

Today, on National Sorry Day, we honour the strength, resilience, and enduring spirit of the Stolen Generations and their families.

As a tribute, we are sharing Julie Dowling’s powerful painting Black Madonna: Omega (2004) — a work that speaks to the grief, strength, and unbroken love of First Nations families.

Dowling created this piece as a tribute to the mothers of the Stolen Generations, whose children were forcibly taken by government and church institutions.

As she explains:

“I made this painting in honour of First Nation mothers, whose children were forcibly stolen from them by white governments and institutions, in order to assimilate the children.

In Roman Orthodox Catholic art, there are early depictions of the Madonna and Child (Jesus) as black people, which continues today.

I wanted to hold a mirror up to the hypocrisy of governments that honour the sacredness of a black Madonna and child, while at the same time stealing First Nation children from their mothers.” — artist statement.

Today we remember.
We acknowledge the truth.
And we stand with survivors, families, and communities whose stories continue to shape this nation.



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Julie Dowling. Black Madonna: Omega, 2004. Synthetic polymer paint, red ochre, glitter and metallic paint on canvas, 120 x 100 cm. Gift of Brigitte Braun, 2017. © Julie Dowling / Copyright Agency

23/05/2026

Gallery 06 will be closed Monday, 25 May 2026, for the rotation of new artworks and care for the Attachment Styles: Modes of Belonging in Modern and Contemporary Art exhibition.

Stay tuned for new artworks to come!

We look forward to welcoming you back to Gallery 06 when it reopens on Wednesday, 27 May.

Learn more about Attachment Styles via https://bit.ly/4a61PpV

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Installation View ‘Attachment Styles’. The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA), Perth, 2025. Left: Stewart MacFarlane. The boarder, 1987. The State Art Collection, The Art Gallery of Western Australia. Gift of ICI Australia Ltd, 1995. Right: Davida ALLEN. Dog, baby and Davida, 1981. The State Art Collection, The Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased 1981.

22/05/2026

Visitors to the AGWA Design Store will soon be able to get their hands on an exclusive t-shirt collaboration between Stormie Mills and North Metropolitan TAFE students.

As part of the Pulse mentoring initiative, we put together a hands‑on workshop led by Stormie Mills — diving into drawing exercises, exploring visual research from his personal journals, and receiving one‑to‑one mentoring to shape their concepts. With an open brief, each student reinterpreted Stormie’s iconic style in their own voice.

“I’m lucky to have someone who has believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Being able to offer that same support to others is the real reward — and seeing the students cheer each other on showed what it means to be caring, creative human beings.

Creative work can feel like a body of water — you see yourself in it, but you’re not always sure how to cross it. What AGWA is doing with the TAFEs and Universities feels like stepping stones rising up from under that water, meeting students where they are and helping them move forward.” — Stormie Mills.

Our Design Store curators, Leith and Rob, selected six standout designs to be screen‑printed at North Metro TAFE and sold exclusively through the AGWA Design Store.

The rollout happens in two waves:
✨ Three designs debut at the Pulse 2026 runway tomorrow on 23 May, alongside a window display showcasing samples from all 30 students.
✨ Three more drop on 31 July at the opening of Stormie’s exhibition.

A celebration of mentorship, emerging talent, and the power of creative exchange — and you get to wear the art.

Grab your t-shirt at Design Store in-store or online via https://bit.ly/4upBHxC

NMT Fashion Graduates

Photos by Emma McQuade

21/05/2026

Thank you to all who attended last week's opening for The West Australian Pulse 2026. It is always a pleasure and an honour to celebrate the richness of artistic talent coming from Perth's youth.

The West Australian Pulse 2026 celebrates 34 years and features 63 works by 2025 Year 12 Visual Arts graduates from 43 schools across WA.

See it for yourself before it closes on 13 September 2026.
FREE.

Learn more via https://artgallery.wa.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/the-west-australian-pulse-2026/

Rift Photography

20/05/2026

Tầm Tã – Soaked in the Long Rain is the first significant presentation of artist Trần Lương's work in Australia. The exhibition offers insight into the artist’s multifaceted life and practice, shaped by political and social transitions in Vietnam, and the many roles he continues to play—as activist, curator, facilitator, archivist and mentor.

Spanning painting, installation, performance, community engagement and institution-making, the exhibition delves into the life of an artist who, over the last thirty years, has played a significant role in supporting critical contemporary art in Vietnam—a context with little public infrastructure for artmaking and display, and continued limits on artistic expression.

Discover 'Trần Lương, Tấm Tã – Soaked in the long rain' at AGWA until 16 August 2026.
Learn more via https://bit.ly/4u5R4ei

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Trần Lương. Fairy Tale Soup (Chử Đồng Tử and Tiên Dung), 2003. Single-channel video, still. Courtesy of the artist

Trần Lương. Lập Lòe, 2012. Three-channel video, sound. Installation view in Trần Lương, Tấm Tã – Soaked in the long rain, Jameel Art Centre, Dubai, 2024. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Daniella Baptista

Trần Lương, Lotus 11, 1992, watercolor on xuan paper. Courtesy of the artist. (detail)