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Curator Ellie Buttrose explains theme for her 2026 Adelaide Biennial

Curator Ellie Buttrose centres material strength at the heart of her 2026 Adelaide Biennale.
3 Sep 2025 8:30
Gina Fairley
Gallery view of installation of sculptures made from various materials.

Visual Arts

Installation view: Isadora Vaughan, ‘Organs of Cognition,’ 2021. The National 2021: New Australian Art, Carriageworks. Photo: Zan Wimberley

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Announced today (3 September) the theme for the 2026 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art is Yield Strength.

Curator Ellie Buttrose – who was responsible for curating Australia’s Golden Lion winning pavilion at the Venice Biennale last year – said that she is interested in ‘what it means to transform materials, to yield to them, and not be able to go backwards.’

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Gina Fairley

Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's Senior Contributor, after 12 years in the role as National Visual Arts Editor. She has worked for extended periods in America and Southeast Asia, as gallerist, arts administrator and regional contributing editor for a number of magazines, including Hong Kong based Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. She is an Art Tour leader for the AGNSW Members, and lectures regularly on the state of the arts. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Instagram: fairleygina

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