CANBERRA.- The National Gallery of Australia has unveiled the 5th National Indigenous Art Triennial: After the Rain – a major exhibition led by Tony Albert, one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists.

From 6 December 2025 until 26 April 2026, audiences are invited to Kamberri/Canberra to celebrate cultural warriors of the past, present and future, with the vision of Artistic Director, Tony Albert(Girramay/Yidinji/Kuku-Yalanji peoples) coming to life through 10 immersive and multidisciplinary installations.

First Nations artists from across the country come together on Ngambri and Ngunnawal land to present the fifth iteration of the National Indigenous Art Triennial, titled After the Rain. Spanning across traditional and contemporary mediums, Albert and the National Gallery have commissioned the featured artists to create 10 large-scale projects that reflect on renewal, resistance and rebirth.

Tony Albert, Artistic Director said: ‘After the Rain positions the creative brilliance of First Nations artists at the centre of national conversation, offering a restorative and forward-looking exploration of Country and culture. After the rain, the land is cleansed, seeds begin to sprout, and new life emerges. I am thrilled to welcome visitors to the National Gallery to celebrate the strength and beauty of what is flourishing.’

The exhibition opens with a series of intimate portraits by Vincent Namatjira of each participating artist, alongside the bold activism of Aretha Brown through her breakthrough mural art THE BIRTH OF A NATION: THE TRUE HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA, continuing her ongoing THE TEACH BLAK HISTORY PROJECT.

Kalben-aw story place of Wuku and Mukam the flying fox brothers is comprised of over 500 suspended flying foxes made by Alair Pambegan who continues his Ancestors’ traditions using distinctive red, white and black ochre from his Country. Warraba Weatherall’s installation, Mother-Tongue, speaks to the profound relationship between body and land, asking audiences to consider how culture and Country are interconnected forms of knowledge that require active maintenance to thrive.

Positioned in the centre of the exhibition is The House of Namatjira – a project that honours Albert Namatjira as a foundational pioneer, whose enduring legacy flows through his family and community. Presented alongside Namatjira’s watercolours from the national collection are Vincent Namatjira’s internationally recognised portraits and works by the Hermannsburg Potters and Iltja Ntjarra Artists.

After the Rain elevates First Nations voices on current challenges to society and Country with Dylan Mooney bringing queer Blak futures into focus through large-scale banners and letters of love with Resilience in Bloom, and Jimmy John Thaiday’s multidisciplinary installation, Just Beneath the Surface–an urgent cry for climate action and to adopt practices that prioritise environmental preservation.

Naminapu Maymuru-White’s celestial bark paintings, Milŋiyawuy (Milky Way) invite visitors to slow down and be immersed by Yolŋu ways of being. Still I Rise presents Thea Anamara Perkins’ dynamic storytelling, drawn from her deep observation of family history and the world around her.

Bringing together soft-sculpture and painting, Yarrenyty Arltere Artists and Grace Kemarre Robinya’s Kukawarra kwatja, pmara nhanhanama marra inthurra, soft rain, strong Country shares Country that is rich, colourful and cleansed by rain. Yarrenyty Arltere Artists and Grace Kemarre Robinya have also been commissioned to create a new projection and sound-based work which will illuminate the National Gallery’s facade for the Enlighten Festival from 27 February to 9 March 2026.

Concluding the exhibition is Blaklash’s contemporary lifestyle presentation of First Nations design, fashion and art. ALWAYS remember the rain extends the spirit of After the Rain into Community-driven Aboriginal enterprise. Blaklash’s Troy Casey and Amanda Hayman have worked with each exhibiting artist to create bespoke, ethical and unique merchandise for After the Rain.

After the Rain is accompanied by a range of public programs and events, an artist-led podcast and a vibrantly illustrated publication. Edited by Tony Albert, the publication shares stories of artistic collaborations, longstanding friendships and generational practices from Erub in Zenadth Kes/Torres Strait Islands to Ntaria/Hermannsburg in Central Australia. Alongside artist profiles, the publication includes commissioned essays addressing legacies, identities and climate change by contributing First Nations writers Bruce Johnson McLean, Jilda Andrews, Daniel Browning and Yessie Mosby.

Following its presentation in Kamberri/Canberra, After the Rain will commence a three-year tour, which includes Home of the Arts, Qld; Araluen Art Centre, NT; Art Gallery of Western Australia, WA; Geelong Gallery, Vic; University of Queensland, Qld; and Orange Regional Gallery, NSW.

Dr Nick Mitzevich, Director, National Gallery said: ‘The National Indigenous Art Triennial is one of the most significant platforms for First Nations art in the country. Under Tony Albert’s influential leadership, After the Rain is an electrifying and moving exhibition not to be missed. It celebrates the authority, ingenuity and cultural power of First Nations artists. The National Gallery is grateful to Tony, the artists, Wesfarmers Arts and the 278 donors, including Principal Patron Tim Fairfax, who have made the fifth instalment of the Triennial possible.’