Australian Modern by Max Dupain

With a career spanning more than 50 years, Max Dupain is regarded as one of Australia’s most respected and influential black-and-white photographers. 

Max Dupain, Morning rush hour, Sydney Harbour Bridge 1938, black and white silver gelatin photograph. Printed by Jill White.
Max Dupain, Morning rush hour, Sydney Harbour Bridge 1938, black and white silver gelatin photograph.
Printed by Jill White.

Dupain pioneered a Modernist approach of high contrast, sharp focus, dramatic angles, and creative compositions, departing sharply from the sentimentality of soft focused and nostalgic post-colonialism.

This collection of over 60 original photographs hand printed by Jill White, records a bygone era of Australian society from the 1930s to 1980s. Amongst them are some of Australia’s most iconic images of beach culture, landscape, fashion, and the grand vistas and quiet moments of city life including the construction of the Sydney Opera House and powerful images of the new Sydney Harbour Bridge. Dupain’s work is an inspiration to any aspiring photographer or voyeur of culture.

Max Dupain, Sydney Opera House under construction (man with wire) 1962, black and white silver gelatin photograph. Printed by Jill White.
Max Dupain, Sydney Opera House under construction (man with wire) 1962,
black and white silver gelatin photograph. Printed by Jill White.

This project has been assisted by Jill White.

Jill White began her career as a photographer in the 1970s when she worked as a studio photographer, and manager, of the Max Dupain studio. This role continued until around the time of Dupain’s death in 1992 and  the Dupain Exhibition Negative Archive was bequeathed to Jill White with instructions to print, exhibit, publish, and sell his images.

Max Dupain, Bondi Beach Symmetry c1940s, black and white silver gelatin photograph. Printed by Jill White.
Max Dupain, Bondi Beach Symmetry c1940s, black and white silver gelatin photograph. Printed by Jill White.

Upcoming Events Submit an Event

April

Canberra: 27 Feb until 20 July 2025. The National Library has invited renowned Australian photojournalist Mike Bowers to select some of his favourite images from the Fairfax Photo Archive.

Brisbane: Until 13 July 2025. Amateur Brisbane photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870-1954) extraordinary images lay dormant for decades until they were discovered only recently. This exhibition is curated by seven Brisbane photographers.

Sydney: Until 31 Dec 2025. PIX, Australia’s first pictorial news weekly, is brought to life in this exhibition, showcasing its archived images and stories for the very first time.

Sydney: Until 30 June. The photographs in Max Dupain: Student Life were taken at the University of Sydney in the early 1950s, a period of rapid change marked by the politics of the Cold War.

May

Sydney: 15 May – 19 October. Showcasing 100 incredible images, this remarkable exhibition offers a window into the astonishing variety of life on our planet – and the critical importance of preserving it.

Perth: From 31 May – 28 Sept 2025. Featuring 85 works from three major series – Deep Springs, Overpass, and Cross Country – the exhibition spans twelve years of Contis’s evolving photographic practice.

June

Sydney: Until 6 July. Presenting the results of the 2025 World Press Photo Contest, the annual exhibition showcases the best and most important photojournalism and documentary photography of the last year.

Melbourne: June 5 - 16 August 2025. The explore the history of Alan Adler's photobooths and their cultural significance, alongside visual stories told by the community.

Adelaide: 7 June – 16 August. Drawn from the National Portrait Gallery collection, this photographic exhibition captures the experience of lives lived through dance.

Melbourne: 7 June – 31 August. Protest is a Creative Act seeks to address issues around the body, sexuality, race, national identity and the environment.