With summer well and truly underway in Australia, it’s tempting to look ahead to holidays spent almost entirely on the beach or out in the sun – summer always seems to be over so quickly after all. For those seeking more culture than a holiday paperback however, the gallery scene has upped its game for summer programming this year.

From blockbuster international exhibitions to some of the most promising emerging Australian talent, here’s our choice of the summer shows to mark on your calendar in the coming months.

MELBOURNE:

NGV: One of Britain’s greatest contemporary artists, David Hockney co-curated this major solo exhibition, David Hockey: Current, in collaboration with the NGV. Featuring more than 700 works from his past decade of work, the collection includes new and never-before-seen in Australia pieces. As an incredibly prolific, diverse and adaptive artist (this collection alone will feature paintings, digital drawings, photography and video works), Hockney will certainly provide plenty to pore over on a summer afternoon. On until 13 March 2017.

ACCA: A landmark exhibition spanning new commissions, recent and historical works from over 30 artists, Sovereignity focusses on contemporary art of the First Nations peoples of South East Australia. Exploring the culturally and linguistically diverse narratives of self-determination, identity, sovereignty and resistance, the diverse exhibition is a celebration of the vibrant and diverse visual art and culture of Victoria’s Indigenous peoples. From 17 December to 26 March 2017.

Daine Singer: Flinders Lane favourite Daine Singer is featuring Melbourne artist Zoë Croggon until 16th December. Having worked with sculpture, video, drawing and collage forms, Croggon’s latest collection of work, titled Kiri, examines the individual obsession with the body through a series of photocollages.

Bruce Lowe at Hub Furniture: (above image) Acclaimed architect and ceramicist Bruce Rowe of Anchor Ceramics is showing his second exhibition in the Hub Melbourne showroom until 19 December, titled Structures II. The collection continues exploring Bruce’s fascination with the interrelations between art, architecture and design, with each piece in Structures II created through a making process that encompasses rolling thick slabs of clay to be hand-cut into a series of abstract forms. 

SYDNEY:

MCA: As mentioned in our Sydney 48 Hour guide, a visit to MCA is always a good idea, particularly when they’re showing a contemporary art master like Tatsuo Miyajima. Miyajima’s Connect With Everything features the sculptural works and room-scale installations he’s renowned for, exploring time and its passage through lighting and technology devices. With plenty of colour and light to stimulate, it’s safe to say the littler ones will get something from it too. On until 5 March 2017.

Sydney Festival 2017 at Carriageworks: The annual Sydney Festival kicks off in January and Carriageworks plays host to a range of its most interesting programming. From 7 – 29 January, the space will welcome performances from a wide range of artists and creatives, including Ekosdance Company and the Sydney Chamber Orchestra. Oh and Kylie Kwong is curating the monthly night market if you time your visit right.

4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art: Referencing the humidity and deluge that characterises Hong Kong, Before the Rain explores the tensions of the city’s political and civil urgency in recent times. The exhibiting artists, including a commissioned work from Samson Wong, are displayed alongside ephemera from the Hong Kong streets, digital and print news content and CCTV loops to invite reflection and discovery of a city in flux. From 21 January to 29 March 2017.

BRISBANE:

QAGOMA: Brisbane’s modern art museum is turning 10 and it’s kicking off the celebrations with Sugar Spin, featuring over 250 contemporary artworks that explore light, space, architecture and the senses. Visitor favourites have been mixed with brand-new immersive works, including Nervescape, a multi-coloured landscape of synthetic hair by Icelandic-born artist Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir (a.k.a. Shoplifter) and Heard from Nick Cave, where a group of vibrant sculptural horses are brought to life by dancers. There’s also works from contemporary faves like Carsten Höller, Olafur Eliasson and Ron Mueck. On until 14 April 2017.

Edwina Corlette Gallery: Our go-to in Brisbane is currently playing host to Little Wonder from Jasper Knight until the 17th December. This new series comprises ten pieces including six major works on linen, a departure from the traditional constructed surfaces Knight is usually identified with. Alongside this exhibition, the gallery is also featuring a Gifts from the Stockroom collection, showcasing some of the gallery’s brightest talent just in time for an inspired Christmas gift.

TW Fine Art: Kicking the new year off with a bang, TW Fine Art’s 2017 exhibition roster begins with a joint show from Los Angeles artist Kimberley Rowe and Denver artist Paul Owen Weiner. With both artists pushing the limits of materiality and ideas in contemporary painting, the show will no doubt explore their distinctive styles and practices, including in a Q&A with the artists themselves on January 24th. On from 11 January – 11 February 2017.