Near at Hand: Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial 2026

Nimble, economical and immediate, drawing lays bare the bones of what we see, think and feel.

Featuring APA artist Julian Martin, Near at Hand: Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial 2026 brings together 11 artists from across Australia who channel drawing’s unique capacity for intimate expression. who channel drawing’s unique capacity for intimate expression.

For some artists, drawing encourages close observation of the people and places that make up their worlds. Others draw to give shape to the elusive forms of their imagination. All the artists in this exhibition turn to what is within reach – a glimpse of the everyday, a feeling caught on the wing – and bring it into graphic clarity through the practice of drawing.

Near at Hand highlights the directness with which these personal visions are transcribed onto the drawing surface, registering the nuances of an artist’s touch with extraordinary precision.

The exhibiting artists are Stephen Benwell (Vic), Tom Blake (WA), Andrew Browne (Vic), Emily Ferretti (Vic), Rosemary Lee (NSW), Mary MacDougall (Vic), Julian Martin (Vic), Jennifer Mills with Darcy Luker (Vic), Ryan Nazzari (WA), Louise Weaver (Vic), and Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu (NT).

Supported by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, this is the sixth Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

All areas of the Art Gallery are physically accessible. Find full details on accessibility for the Art Gallery of New South Wales on their website.