Sydney’s art scene is flourishing. From Gemma Smith’s bold anthology showing at Zetland’s Sullivan+Strumpf gallery to the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, we’ve collated the best exhibitions in Sydney this week, for your viewing pleasure.
Gemma Smith’s ‘If then else’ at Sullivan+Strumpf
Sullivan+Strumpf is currently presenting, If then else, an anthology of new works by Sydney-based contemporary artist, Gemma Smith. Widely renowned for her abstraction, process and dynamic use of colour, this exhibition will showcase one of three canvas panels created by Smith for Art Basel Hong Kong’s prestigious Encounters program. Meshing intention with serendipity and colour with craft, Smith’s show will run until May 31st, 2025 at 799 Elizabeth Street, Zetland, Sydney, 2017, NSW. sullivanstrumpf.com
Gemma Smith, Mirror takes, 2025. Artwork courtesy the artist and Sullivan+Strumpf. Photograph courtesy of Mark Pokorny.
Sam Leach’s ‘Leisure Herd’ at Sullivan+Strumpf
Running concurrently to the Gemma Smith exhibition, artist Sam Leach’s collection of dystopian dreamscapes, Leisure Herd, will be showing from May 8th at Sullivan+Strumpf. In his body of work, Leach explores the interaction between AI, non-human animals and industrial agricultural practices. Playing between the light and dark aspects of utopia and dystopia with his futuristic manifestations of paradise — Leach depicts leisurely animals and classical landscapes. For more information on the exhibition, visit sullivanstrumpf.com.
Sam Leach, Comfort interior for pig, 2025. Artwork courtesy of the artist and Sullivan+Strumpf. Photograph courtesy of Phillip Huynh.
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The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes at The Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) has announced the winners of the 2025 Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes. This year, the prestigious Archibald Prize was awarded to Julie Fragar for her likeness of Brisbane-based multimedia artist, Justene Williams, titled Flagship Mother Multiverse. An ode to motherhood and the interplay between the daily labour of work, art and deadlines, Fragar tells AGNSW, “Her [Williams] studio back catalogue — some of which is in this painting — is a multiverse of characters and events that confront the restless weirdness we go through en route to the other side”. Showing alongside the Archibald, the Wynne Prize (best figure sculpture or landscape painting) was awarded to three-time finalist Jude Rae’s work Pre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminal, and the Sulman Prize (best subject, genre painting or mural project) was awarded to Gene A’Hern for his dreamy oil on stick board landscape titled, Sky Painting. artgallery.nsw.gov.au
Julie Fragar, Flagship Mother Universe. Photograph courtesy of the artist and The Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Cosimo Casoni’s ‘Strade di Casa’ at PIERMARQ
PIERMARQ is presenting Strade di Casa (Ways to Home), the third exhibition of to be shown at the gallery by Italian artist, Cosimo Casoni. Casoni draws the viewer in with his visual study of the concept of “Home”, manifested by the surrealist landscapes of Tuscany. From Florence to the Maremma, and by way of spray paint, finger marks and stylistic skateboard imprints. Visit PIERMARQ to view the exhibition from May 8th to June 7th. piermarq.com.au.
Photograph courtesy of the artist and PIERMARQ.
