Migration and modernism | Emigre artists in post-war Australia

National Gallery of Australia

Communities from across the globe have helped shape Australia as we know it today.

In a time of unprecedented migration across oceans and borders, Migration and modernism reflects on the experiences of migrants to Australia from the mid-20th century to the present.

The display presents outstanding works by mid-20th century immigrant artists to reveal their important contribution to the development of modernism in Australia. These works capture the myriad ways artists have created homes and communities, and enriched Australia's culturally diverse landscape-including the impact of postwar migration on the artistic evolution of the Canberra region.

Migration and modernism draws on the National Gallery's rich holdings of modern and contemporary Australian painting, sculpture, prints, textiles, decorative arts and photography and features rarely shown and previously unseen works. Artists include mid-century European emigres such as Stanislaus Ostoja-Kotkowski and more recent migrants representing the Asian diaspora, including Hiroe Swen, Khai Liew and Simryn Gill. Artists whose migrations result from conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries, such as Stanislava Pinchuk, also feature.

'For me, everything comes down to the land. To talk about people is to talk about land and to talk about land is to talk about people.'
Stanislava Pinchuk

Collection Display
23 May 2026 - 7 Mar 2027
Level 2, Gallery 21
Free

Time: 10am - 5pm daily



 National Gallery of Australia View Venue
 Parkes Place Canberra A.C.T. 2600 Map

→ nga.gov.au

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