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Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly series reunited at Art Gallery of NSW for first time in decades

National Gallery of Australia loans 26 paintings to Sydney for landmark exhibition

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
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For the first time in nearly 30 years, all 27 paintings from Sidney Nolan's iconic Ned Kelly series will be displayed together, with the National Gallery of Australia lending its collection to the Art Gallery of NSW for a new exhibition examining the artist's formative years.

The Art Gallery of NSW already owned one of the series' most celebrated works, First-Class Marksman, which it purchased for a record-breaking $5.4 million in 2010. The remaining 26 paintings, held by the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, have been crated and trucked to Sydney in a collaborative effort.

The full set will be exhibited together for the first time in almost 30 years, and the first time in Sydney for more than 60 years. The series is widely regarded as a national treasure, having inspired a gang of letter-box Ned Kellys in the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics and influencing Justin Kurzel's film True History of the Kelly Gang.

"It's a nice reunion," said Denise Mimmocchi, senior curator of Australian art at the Art Gallery of NSW, during a tour of the exhibition before it opens on Saturday. "It's given us the opportunity to not just reunite them with the missing painting but also show them in a slightly different context."

The exhibition focuses on Nolan's formative creative years, placing the Ned Kelly series within a broader exploration of his early work.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • This is a rare opportunity for the public to see one of Australia's most famous art series in its entirety, offering cultural enrichment and a deeper understanding of a national icon.
  • The inter-gallery cooperation between the Art Gallery of NSW and the National Gallery of Australia sets a positive precedent for future shared exhibitions.
  • The exhibition may attract significant visitor numbers, boosting local tourism and engagement with Australian art history.

Background

Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly series, created in the 1940s, is a cornerstone of Australian modernist art. The paintings depict the bushranger Ned Kelly in stylised, often surreal landscapes. Individual works from the series are held by multiple institutions and private collectors, making full reunions rare and logistically challenging.

Key Perspectives

Art Gallery of NSW: The host institution benefits from displaying a complete, iconic series that draws on its existing collection and strengthens its role as a major cultural venue. National Gallery of Australia: By lending its holdings, the NGA enables a significant national exhibition while maintaining ownership and preserving its collection. Critics/Skeptics: Some may question the cost and resources involved in transporting and insuring such valuable works, or argue that the exhibition's focus on formative years may overshadow Nolan's later achievements.

What to Watch

  • Visitor attendance numbers and public reception during the exhibition's run.
  • Any future collaborative exhibitions between major Australian galleries.
  • Auction or market movements for the series' individual paintings following increased exposure.

Sources

Zotpaper

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