NAS Gallery

About the Gallery

Located at the heart of the National Art School’s historic campus, NAS Gallery presents up to four major exhibitions per year as well as annual graduate and postgraduate student exhibitions.

The Gallery enhances the National Art School’s role as a leading centre for visual arts education in the Asia-Pacific region, with ambitious group and solo exhibitions by Australian and international artists that foster critical appreciation of art and innovative art practice. NAS Gallery exhibitions are accompanied by scholarly publications and a dynamic range of public programs that provide a rich context for the interpretation and understanding of art.

In 2021, in partnership with the School’s National Centre for Drawing, NAS Gallery launched The Drawing Gallery, an exhibition space dedicated to examining contemporary and historical approaches to drawing.

Collection Strengths

The National Art School Collection aims to document the history and works of past and present students and teachers of the School, and to document the creative and historical activities associated with the School and its site. This unique and nationally significant collection performs a major role within the School, both as a teaching resource and historical record. Items include works on paper, paintings, prints, sculpture, teaching aides, artifacts and archives related to its important history as an educational institution and the former Darlinghurst Gaol. It is the largest collection in Australia of student works made on the site where they are housed.

Programming Strengths

NAS Gallery occupies a unique position within Sydney’s cultural environment, providing a space where students, staff and the public engage with a broad range of artwork by Australian and international artists at various stages of their careers. Throughout the year, the NAS Gallery program is supported by artist talks and curatorial discussions that foster deeper understanding of artists’ practices and provide insight into the important role of art in contemporary society.

Exhibition Spaces

NAS Gallery is a 440 square meter space occupying both levels of the former A-Wing of the old Darlinghurst Gaol (built between 1836-41). The upstairs level features high ceilings, original timber beams and an iconic double-height arched window. NAS Gallery has 172 running meters. The 75 square meter Drawing Gallery is a striking space housed in the former kitchen of the old Darlinghurst Gaol. It features a soaring white-painted timber ceiling with an original light-well at its centre. The Drawing Gallery has 42 running meters.