Sydney Contemporary 2026 | Painting

A major survey of new work by artists at the forefront of Australian painting forms a central thread within Michael Reid Sydney + Berlin’s 10th anniversary Sydney Contemporary presentation, with our largest contingent of contemporary painters to date revealing and reaffirming the medium’s enduring vitality, conceptual breadth and material possibilities.

Tim Maguire makes his first art fair appearance since joining Michael Reid Sydney + Berlin, presenting sprawling, cinematic paintings alive with colour, luminosity and ever-unfolding detail, while Sid Pattni returns for his first Australian showing since completing the prestigious Cité Internationale des Arts Residency in Paris.

Sydney Contemporary marks the gallery debut of newly represented Tasmanian artist Stephanie Tabram. She joins Julz Beresford and Carly Le Cerf to form a formidable trio of painters who have each, through their own distinctive perspective and exceptional skill, made the Australian landscape an animating preoccupation.

John Honeywill presents still-life paintings from his current solo exhibition, Lean Towards – now on at Michael Reid Sydney – while ascendant abstract painter Kathy Liu returns after a banner 18 months that has included her most ambitious body of work to date and two major awards shortlistings.

Explore more from our Sydney Contemporary exhibition here. For enquiries, please email hughholm@michaelreid.com.au