From now until February 9, 2025, the Art Gallery of New South Wales presents the first major René Magritte retrospective in Australia.
The exhibition features more than one hundred works, most of which have never been shown in the country before.
It provides a comprehensive overview of the Belgian surrealist’s work, from his early avant-garde experiments to his iconic paintings of everyday objects that challenge perceptions of reality.
Highlights include significant loans from renowned collections, such as the Menil Collection in Houston and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The exhibition, hosted in the new Naala Nura South building, is organised chronologically, guiding visitors through Magritte’s career; from his commercial work in the 1920s and his groundbreaking contributions to surrealism, to the bold provocations of the 1940s and the celebrated masterpieces created before his death in 1967.
The retrospective sheds light on Magritte’s exploration of the relationship between image and language, appearance and reality, revealing his profound influence on contemporary visual culture.
In addition to paintings, the exhibition includes photographs, films and archival materials, offering insights into lesser-known aspects of Magritte’s creative process, including his subversive humour and the uniqueness of his artistic vision.
This extensive overview of Magritte’s work coincides with the centenary of the 1924 Surrealist Manifesto, reflecting on the ongoing relevance of the artistic movement to this day.
The exhibition is part of the Sydney International Art Series, which also features Cao Fei: My City is Yours, a groundbreaking exploration of China’s urban and technological transformation, held in the North building.
The contrast between Magritte’s surrealism and Fei’s futuristic visions highlights the ongoing dialogue between historical and contemporary art.
Visitors to the Magritte retrospective can enjoy a range of events, including guided tours, lecture series, workshops and performances celebrating the surrealist master.
The exhibition also offers audio tours for visually impaired visitors and Auslan tours for the deaf.
Supported by Create NSW’s Blockbusters Funding initiative and Destination NSW, this major exhibition underscores Sydney’s status as a global cultural hub, bringing some of the world’s most extraordinary art to local audiences.
