ARTEXPRESS is back!
ARTEXPRESS 2026
5 February – 26 April 2026
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Naala Badu building
Lower level 2
Free
The Art Gallery of New South Wales proudly presents ARTEXPRES 2026, the much-anticipated annual exhibition celebrating exceptional artworks by students who studied Visual Arts in the 2025 New South Wales Higher School Certificate (HSC).
Now in its 43rd year at the Art Gallery of New South Wales – the principal venue for ARTEXPRESS – the 2026 exhibition features the outstanding work of 51 student artists, selected from a cohort of 9074 students who completed the 2025 HSC Visual Arts course, showcasing the diversity of creativity from government and non-government schools across regional, remote and metropolitan New South Wales.
Launched on the evening of Wednesday February 4 with a special ceremony for artists and their families, ARTEXPRESS 2026 offers a compelling snapshot of the ideas, curiosities and concerns shaping the lives of young Australians. The exhibition reveals deeply personal explorations of identity, culture, family and the environment, alongside thoughtful engagement with the issues that matter to young people. The student works demonstrate remarkable technical skill and creative ambition across an extensive range of artistic practices.
Various expressive forms from the HSC Visual Arts curriculum are represented, including ceramics, collection of works, documented forms, drawing, graphic design, painting, photomedia, printmaking, sculpture, textiles and fibre, and time-based forms.
For the first time, ARTEXPRESS is presented in the Art Gallery’s Naala Badu building this year, placing the work of these young artists in dialogue with leading contemporary artists.
Art Gallery of New South Wales director Maud Page said: ‘Young people are central to the future of both art and the Art Gallery. Presenting ARTEXPRESS 2026 is an exhilarating reminder of the creative intelligence and confidence that will shape Australian art in the years to come. These works are thoughtful, generous and often fearless, offering insight into how young artists see themselves and the world around them.
‘We also celebrate and recognise the teachers, families and communities across the state who have supported these students to reach this point. We are proud to share these works with our audiences and to celebrate this significant moment in the creative journeys of the next generation of New South Wales artists,’ Page said.
ARTEXPRESS is presented by the Art Gallery in partnership with the NSW Department of Education and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).
NESA chief executive officer Paul Martin said: ’ARTEXPRESS at the Art Gallery of New South Wales is a celebration of artistic talents in schools across New South Wales. Congratulations to the hundreds of students nominated and to those who have been selected for exhibition. It is a huge honour to have your work hung in a gallery such as this – and graduates should celebrate that exposure and recognition of their talents.
‘Thank you to the teachers of New South Wales who supported these young people and nurtured their talents. Arts education in NSW plays an important role in cultivating expression and creative and critical thinking in our broader communities,’ Martin said.
Since 1989, the Art Gallery has been the principal venue for ARTEXPRESS, displaying bodies of work by students from across New South Wales. Many former exhibitors have gone on to distinguished careers, including Archibald Prize 2025 winner Julie Fragar (ARTEXPRESS 1995).
ARTEXPRESS 2026 is now on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in the Neilson Family Gallery in Naala Badu until 26 April 2026. Entry is free.
ARTEXPRESS 2026 exhibitions in New South Wales:
- Art Gallery of New South Wales – 4 February to 26 April
- Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Gymea – 9 February to 12 April
- Maitland Regional Art Gallery – 21 February to 19 April
- Broken Hill City Art Gallery – 1 May to 26 July
- Glasshouse Regional Gallery, Port Macquarie – 9 May to 19 July
- Wagga Wagga Art Gallery – 23 May to 26 July
- Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo – 15 August to 4 October
- Bondi Pavilion Gallery – 24 August to 24 October
- Hawkesbury Regional Gallery – 28 August to 18 October
The Art Gallery of New South Wales is the principal venue for ARTEXPRESS 2026, and the exhibition is presented in association with the NSW Department of Education, Arts Unit, and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).
All works from all years are here. Works on display this year from HSC 2025 students include:
Clara O'Reilly
Return to Mt Victoria
My body of work represents our family getaway in Mount Victoria, with exterior views of the home and surrounding landscape supported by a series of interiors. My intention in this work is to convey time spent with family as well as our love for the Australian bush. My compositional choices, such as using the window as a framing device, communicate how this second home is a place of familiarity and respite. Relief printmaking methods allowed for the plates to be re-used, just as were turn again and again, and the rich naturalistic palette references seasonal shifts of weather and light.
Influencing artists:
- Cressida Campbell
- Jennifer Keeler-Milne
- Dianne Fogwell
- David Frazer
School: Northern Beaches Secondary College, Mackellar Girls Campus
ARTEXPRESS year: 2026
HSC year: 2025
Clara O'Reilly's 'Return to Mt Victoria'.
Out Front 2026 celebrates the next generation artists
In related HSC Arts News, the return of the highly anticipated annual exhibition, Out Front 2026, will run from 20 February to 5 April 2025 at Manly Art Gallery & Museum (MAG&M).
Showcasing the exceptional achievements of 25 HSC Visual Arts students from 21 local secondary schools, this exhibition highlights MAG&M’s commitment to supporting young creatives and enriching community connections.
Mayor Sue Heins has expressed her admiration for the students’ work.
“Once again, our students have amazed us with their ingenuity and artistic skill. Out Front is a wonderful celebration of the creativity nurtured in our schools and the dedication of our teachers.
“It’s inspiring to see young artists bravely tackling big issues—identity, transformation and our environment—through their art. Their passion and fresh perspectives truly reflect the spirit of our community,” Mayor Heins said.
Now in its third decade, Out Front 2026 provides an invaluable platform for emerging talent to display their works in a professional gallery setting. This year’s exhibition features an exciting mix of painting, sculpture, photography, collage and mixed media installations, all boldly addressing contemporary themes relevant to today’s youth.
A highlight of the event is the presentation of two prestigious awards. The Theo Batten Youth Art Award, valued at $5,000, honours artistic excellence and innovation and will be announced on opening night. The KALOF People’s Choice Award invites the community to vote for their favourite artwork, celebrating both peer and public recognition and strengthening ties between students, families, educators and the wider community.
The public is warmly invited to attend the exhibition and the opening on Friday 20 February, from 6–8pm, officially opened by Mayor Sue Heins. Join in for a lively celebration of local creativity, meet the talented young artists and connect with fellow supporters of the arts. Entry is free.
PROGRAM
Out Front 2026
20 February – 5 April 2025
Manly Art Gallery & Museum
West Esplanade Reserve, Manly
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Free entry
Exhibition opening night
Friday 20 February, 6–8pm
To be opened by Mayor Sue Heins
RSVP link
Picture: Jennifer Choi, Virtual Daydreams, Acrylic on canvas, NBSC Manly Campus pt1