Stargazing

Image: David Stephenson – Star Drawing 1996/906
Image: David Stephenson – Star Drawing 1996/906
Stargazing brings together a selection of contemporary photographs that guide us towards the stars, the planets and celestial spaces in poetic, experimental, playful, conceptual, and often quite abstract ways.

Through a variety of photographic processes and experimental techniques, often incorporating analogue technologies or archival imagery, the artists in this exhibition evoke, transform and play with celestial scenes. They delve into ideas about the universe and our place within it, challenging expectations of photography to explore the cosmos from felt, imagined and self-referential perspectives. While alluding to realms that exist beyond Earth’s surface, these artists encourage us to reflect on themes that remain tightly connected to human experience and the planet in which we live. These include environmental issues, interconnectedness, identity, spirituality, time, memory, mortality and the nature of photography itself.

Showing works from MAPh’s significant collection of Australian photographs alongside loans from artists, Stargazing features work by Amos Gebhardt, Michaela Gleave, Anna Higgins, Harry Nankin, Trent Parke, Luke Parker, Patrick Pound, Michael Riley, Kate Robertson, David Stephenson, Christian Thompson, Zan Wimberley and Jemima Wyman.

Curator | Stella Loftus-Hills, MAPh Curator

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August

Sydney: Until 13 September 2026. Olive Cotton is one of Australia's great modern photographers. For the first time, her workd is being exhibited alongside photographs by some of the most celebrated figures in international photography, including Ilse Bing, Dora Marr and Lucia Moholy.

Australian photojournalist Andrew Quilty will share the story behind his remarkable career at a special presentation hosted by Kayell Australia in Sydney on August 26.