A vibrant and celebratory atmosphere filled Bank Art Museum Moree last Thursday evening, as a full house gathered to mark the opening of four major new exhibitions to signal another dynamic chapter in the gallery’s 2026 program.
Running until May 30, the exhibitions bring together a compelling mix of contemporary practice, each offering distinct perspectives on history, material, memory and place.
Leading the program is IN Black and White by Gamilaroi artist Penny Evans, a powerful installation of text-based ceramic works that calls for truth-telling and reflection.
Leading the program is IN Black and White by Gamilaroi artist Penny Evans, a powerful installation of text-based ceramic works that calls for truth-telling and reflection.
Alongside this, stand Jo Norton’s six-foot black clay pierced sculptures that evoke burnt trees—forms shaped by absence through perforation, charring and loss.
In Let’s Party Like It’s 1815, Joan Ross employs her signature vivid digital aesthetic to interrogate the ongoing impacts of colonisation in Australia, using satire and historical reference to provoke critical reflection.
Complementing this is Sensitised and Sentimental by Melissa Spratt, a nuanced exploration of living with hypersensitivity. Each work created by Spratt is laboriously constructed from lengths of finger-knitted wool with statements relating to her experience of the world.
The program also highlights the work of emerging artists Aaron Butt and Pip Stalley, each presenting a distinct suite of works that foreground material sensitivity and connection to place as part of the newly launched Stairwell Gallery program.
Butt’s Near Enough (Is Good Enough) IV brings a considered and iterative approach to form and perception, while Stalley’s Enduring Ground, presented in the Stairwell Gallery, reflects on landscape, endurance and the quiet imprint of human presence.
Together, these exhibitions demonstrate BAMM’s commitment to presenting ambitious and thought-provoking contemporary art, while amplifying diverse voices and practices from across Australia.
The strong turnout at the opening reflects the growing energy around the gallery and its role as a key cultural destination for the region.
Located on Kamilaroi Country, BAMM continues to deliver a bold and engaging exhibition program, connecting local communities with nationally significant artists and ideas.
BAMM new season exhibition
When: Until May 30
Where: Bank Art Museum Moree, 25 Frome Street, Moree
Cost: Free
Images Supplied
