Art Almanac acknowledges and pays respect to the many Aboriginal nations across this land, traditional custodians, Elders past and present; in particular the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional owners of the land on which we work.

April 2026

It’s stories of retrospection and survey and organic truth this month, as art’s roots of inspiration and purpose show themselves as profoundly human, and the works we create as living things that grow with time.

Beginning in the heavens, Emma-Kate Wilson starts us off with a preview of Leonard Brown: Painting the Celestial. Speaking with the curator – our very own Sasha Grishin – we learn about a practice that, for over five decades, has overlapped with faith. Discover, in Sasha’s words: “a slowly enveloping beauty and a solemn power” in a retrospective that “is like going through a spiritual shower.”

This is followed by Jeremy Eccles casting his eye across I AM; a celebration of over sixty First Nations works – via two major rotations with new work, the show will itself bloom across its eighteen-month run. Then, key paintings from 2008 to 2026 are on Grishin’s radar as he reviews the first major survey in a public gallery of Michael Vale’s work – an artist with a dark gothic sensibility, a great love of music, and a collage process of art making. We’ve also Bronwyn Watson’s latest ‘On display’ selection, a 1979 Ted Richards work. Might you grow too through retrospection.

Art Almanac | Australia’s leading monthly guide to “what’s on” in the arts: exhibitions, events, workshops, open studios, artist opportunities, art awards and services. April 2026 features $700k+ in art prizes/funding, 570+ galleries, and 390+ artists, both emerging and established.

Contents

Editorial

Editor’s note
Editor’s pick

Preview:
Leonard Brown, Painting the Celestial – Words by Emma-Kate Wilson

Feature:
I AM: Aboriginal art from the State Art Collection – Words by Jeremy Eccles

Review:
Michael Vale, the Cuckoo, the Herring, and the Trembling Tambourines – Words by Sasha Grishin

On display:
Ted Richards, Enrico Taglietti in his studio, 1979 – Words by Bronwyn Watson

Select exhibitions:
Enjoy our curated selection of must-see exhibitions across Australia this month

News:
Revealed – New and Emerging WA Aboriginal Artists
Perry Prize
Glover Prize
Bald Archy Prize
Art on the Steps
Wingecarribee Prize for Landscape Art

What’s on

Gallery index
Melbourne
Victoria
Sydney
New South Wales
Australian Capital Territory
Tasmania
South Australia
Western Australia
Northern Territory
Queensland
Artist index

Art & industry

Artist opportunities
Awards
Art auction houses
Submissions and proposals
Studio spaces
Materials
Services
Consultants and valuers
Member organisations
Training

Cover image:
Leonard Brown, at last alone together, 2002, oil on Belgian linen, 152 × 122cm / Nodrum Gallery Collection / Courtesy the artist and Ipswich Art Gallery, Queensland