Rest of Australia day 2

If you’ve yet to come across Kaylene Whiskey’s work then you really haven’t been paying attention. Whiskey seems to be everywhere, from a number of major galleries to the sails of the Sydney Opera House and even on a line of high-end knitwear. And it’s all richly deserved. Whiskey is the latest superstar to emerge from the APY lands south of Alice Springs and is affiliated with the same art centre (Iwantja Arts) that produced Vincent Namatjira. Don’t miss her first major solo show in Canberra. Spend time with her bright, pop culture-infused work and you can’t help but come away feeling a little better about the world. – Nell Geraets

5th Indigenous Art Triennial: After the Rain
National Gallery of Australia until April 26

This year’s 5th Indigenous Art Triennial has the theme “After The Rain”, tackling ideas of cleansing, rebirth, renewal and the cyclical nature of life. Curated by Tony Albert, a wide range of First Nations projects are represented in 10 separate installations. Among those featured are Vincent Namatjira, Thea Anamara Perkins and Aretha Brown. The show brings together work from as far north as the Torres Strait and as far south as Melbourne, reflecting Albert’s extensive travels to meet with his chosen artists. If you don’t manage to catch the show in Canberra it is due to tour. – Nick Galvin

Hallyu! The Korean Wave
National Museum of Australia until May 10

It’s difficult to miss the Korean wave, or Hallyu, these days. Squid Game, tteokbokki, BTS, Parasite – they’re all part of a massive phenomenon that has meant South Korean culture has dominated well beyond its borders. The National Museum of Australia captures the breadth and power of this movement in Hallyu! The Korean Wave, an exhibition that explores the history behind hallyu as well as how it’s being re-imagined Down Under. From ATEEZ outfits to classic Oldboy posters, the exhibition features about 250 objects, costumes and studio props originally displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. – Nell Geraets

Queensland

Olafur Eliasson: Presence
QAGOMA until July 12

In a show that ranges from a long table covered in white Lego, a space where a glowing orb has drained all colours but yellow, to a room where a riverbed has been brought indoors, it can be hard at first to see what it is that brings it all together. When you take a step back, however, it becomes clear that Olafur Eliasson’s Presence is about connection. Each work invites you to see things from someone else’s point of view or plays with the idea that two people looking at the same thing will have an entirely different experience. Each piece on its own is worth the visit, but the ideas that drive them stay with you long after you’ve walked out the door. While at QAGOMA, be sure to head upstairs to see Kith and Kin, Archie Moore’s poignant artwork that won the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2024, and made him the first Australian artist ever to receive this accolade. – Elizabeth Flux

Northern Territory

2025 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards
Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory (MAGNT) until January 26

Visiting Darwin is always a great chance to check out the Top End’s compact but elegant gallery in beautiful Fannie Bay. If you happen to be there before the end of January you can catch the finalists in the 42nd NATSIAAs – which is well worth your time. As ever, the awards are an excellent survey of current trends in First Nations art in Australia. This year’s worthy winner is Arnhem Land artist Gaypalani Wanambi and her work Burwu, blossom 2025, which features road signs with delicate engravings on the rear. – Nick Galvin

Western Australia

Pippin Drysdale: Infinite Terrain
Art Gallery of Western Australia until April 6

Fremantle-base ceramicist Pippin Drysdale has built a reputation both here and abroad with her exquisite work. Her technical mastery is matched by her exuberant use of colour in her pieces. “I just wanted to work with colour, colour, colour,” she says. Much of her inspiration and the characteristic rich hues are drawn from the Australian landscape, in particular the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. This show charts the evolution of her practice over 40 years. At 82, she continues to make work, endlessly fascinated by the possibilities of form and colour. – Nick Galvin