NGV exhibition spotlights next generation of First Nations artists

A new exhibition opening this month at the NGV’s Ian Potter Centre at Fed Square will showcase the work of eight emerging First Nations artists from across Australia, each paired with an established mentor as part of a national program designed to support the next generation of creative talent.

Titled FUTURE COUNTRY: Country Road + NGV First Nations Commissions, the exhibition opens on March 20 and runs until September 13, presenting ambitious new works developed through the mentorship initiative.

The program pairs early-career First Nations artists or designers with leading industry figures from each Australian state and territory, supporting them to create new works that push the boundaries of their practices and explore new mediums and ideas.

Participants in the 2026 program include Victorian artist Jahkarli Romanis working alongside mentor Brook Andrew, while Western Australia is represented by Katie West (pictured main) and mentor Clothilde Bullen. Other artists featured in the exhibition are Boneta-Marie Mabo (Queensland, pictured below), Paul Girrawah House (ACT), Charlotte Allingham, also known as Coffinbirth (NSW), Nunami Sculthorpe-Green (Tasmania), Stephanie Ali (Northern Territory), and Carly Tarkari Dodd (South Australia).

Together, the artists represent a wide range of disciplines, including photography, sculpture, textiles, weaving, installation and video.

The exhibition centres around the theme Future Country, inviting artists to reflect on what lies ahead while acknowledging the histories and cultural knowledge that continue to shape First Nations communities.

NGV director Tony Ellwood said the initiative created a vital platform for emerging artists to expand their practices with the guidance of experienced mentors.

“The Country Road + NGV First Nations Commissions offers a vital platform for emerging artists to expand their practices and create ambitious new work under the guidance of an experienced and respected industry mentor,” he said.

Dr Jessica Clark, NGV senior curator of First Nations art, said the exhibition also highlighted the importance of relationships between emerging and established artists.

“FUTURE COUNTRY invites artists to look to the future while simultaneously acknowledging the past,” she said.

All works produced through the program will enter the NGV Collection following the exhibition, expanding the gallery’s representation of contemporary First Nations art.

The commissions are supported through a partnership between the NGV and Australian fashion brand Country Road, which aims to provide a national platform for First Nations artists to share stories, knowledge and cultural expression.

Country Road managing director Helen Wright said the organisation was proud to continue the collaboration with the gallery.

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with the NGV through the Country Road + NGV First Nations Commissions, supporting First Nations artists with a national platform for storytelling, knowledge and cultural expression,” she said.

The program builds on the success of its inaugural exhibition in 2024 and forms part of a broader effort to support First Nations artists and designers working today. Entry to FUTURE COUNTRY: Country Road + NGV First Nations Commissions is free. •