Introduction

The Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art is Australia's longest-running survey of contemporary Australian art and a flagship program of the Art Gallery of South Australia. Established in 1990, it provides Australian artists with an opportunity to develop and showcase ambitious new work.

Held every two years to coincide with the Adelaide Festival, the Biennial has showcased the work of more than 350 artists through 17 editions. It offers Australian artists the opportunity to create new work, sometimes on a scale not possible in commercial galleries or other contexts.

Current Edition: Free/State

The 2024 Adelaide Biennial, titled "Free/State," is curated by Sebastian Goldspink and runs from March 1 to June 2, 2024. This edition brings together a team of leading Australian contemporary artists from every state and territory who create works of art that explore ideas of freedom and the state of being, and of being in a state of flux.

Free/State represents diverse voices from all corners of the continent – a cross-generational mix of emerging, mid-career and established artists working in all mediums. The exhibition showcases a multitude of voices, offering variegated perspectives on historical, contemporary and future freedoms, both geographically and metaphorically.

The current iteration showcases works by 25 artists including Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, Serena Bonson, Mitch Cairns, Dean Cross, Shaun Gladwell, Julia Gutman, Illiam Nargoodah, Patricia Piccinini, Julie Rrap, and many others working at the cutting edge of contemporary Australian practice.

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Narrative & Themes

The Adelaide Biennial consistently focuses on showcasing the most exciting and innovative contemporary Australian art, providing a platform for artists to explore current social, political, and cultural themes. Each edition is developed by a different curator or curatorial team, bringing fresh perspectives and thematic frameworks.

Recent editions have examined themes such as Australia's complex relationship with its landscape and cultural identity, the concept of freedom within both political and personal contexts, and the intersection of traditional Indigenous knowledge with contemporary art practices.

Unlike many international biennials, the Adelaide Biennial maintains a distinctly national focus, providing both established and emerging Australian artists with significant exposure and contributing to critical discourse around Australian contemporary art within international contexts.

History & Context

Launched in 1990, the Adelaide Biennial was established as part of the Art Gallery of South Australia's commitment to contemporary Australian art and to coincide with the Adelaide Festival. It has since become one of Australia's most significant contemporary art events and a cultural highlight of the Adelaide Festival.

The inaugural Adelaide Biennial was curated by Daniel Thomas and featured works by artists including Fiona Hall, Rosalie Gascoigne, and Mike Parr. Over the decades, the event has grown in scale and ambition, attracting increasing national and international attention and establishing itself as an important barometer of Australian contemporary art practice.

Exhibition Venues

The Art Gallery of South Australia serves as the primary venue for the Adelaide Biennial, utilizing its diverse exhibition spaces to showcase a wide range of contemporary art forms, from painting and sculpture to installation, digital media, and performance.

In recent editions, the Biennial has expanded beyond the gallery walls to incorporate additional venues throughout Adelaide, including the Adelaide Botanic Garden, JamFactory, Samstag Museum of Art, and various public spaces. This distributed exhibition model allows for site-specific installations and encourages visitors to experience the city of Adelaide while engaging with the art.

The 2024 edition continues this multi-venue approach, with major installations at the Art Gallery of South Australia's North Terrace building, the Museum of Economic Botany, The Mill, and other partner institutions across the Adelaide cultural precinct.