John YOUNG ZERUNGE, Time's Slow Passing #6 from the series Time's Slow Passing, 2023, etching and lithography on rag paper, 44 x 38 cm. Image courtesy of the artist.
Recovering Art
Main Gallery
15 May - 18 December 2026
15 May - 18 December 2026
The Cunningham Dax Collection holds one of the world's most significant collections of art made in the context of mental illness and psychological trauma, with its earliest works created within the nascent art programs in psychiatric institutions.
Recovering Art takes the earliest moments of the collection's formation as its starting point and looks at the different ways we have understood the relationship between art and mental health, from the era of institutionalisation to now.
The exhibition brings together over 40 works including early archival material and collection works from the Cunningham Dax Collection, set beside new and recent works by leading contemporary artists from Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand to consider the myriad of ways art can play a role in one's life as we navigate the reality of mental illness and disability.
Guest curated by Andy Butler.
Artists: Abdul Abdullah, Ruth Buchanan, Graeme Doyle, Carla Krijt, Jenna Lee, NEG, Renee Sutton, Luke Willis Thompson, John Young Zerunge
Embrace
Arts Access Victoria
Studio Dax Gallery
3 June - 4 September 2026
Embrace brings together six artists whose work celebrates community, acceptance, reflection, and joy.
Works range from pieces that map common memories to quiet studies of belonging; each shows resilience and warmth. Hand-crafted moments invite slow thought and group conversation, turning the gallery into a place of mutual recognition and celebration. Together, the artworks suggest that empathy is something we do and something we gain; an active embrace that respects difference and honours connection.
Using painting, drawing, installation, and mixed media, the artists create close, personal moments that highlight shared stories and different viewpoints. Soft colours and strong patterns sit beside shiny surfaces and tactile forms, asking visitors to stop, talk, and see themselves in each other’s stories.
The artists are supported through Arts Access Victoria’s Arts Mentorships.
Artists: Allison Miles, Diane Moore, Donata Uncanin, Jas Streten, Patrick Tonks, Zoo/LHF
Image: Jas STRETEN, Travel 2025, acrylic, chalk & ink on canvas, 44 x 26 cm. Image courtesy of the artist.