Sydney International Art Series

Bringing the world’s most outstanding exhibitions to Australia, exclusively to Sydney, every summer.

The 2012-13 series will showcase two inspired exhibitions – Francis Bacon: five decades (17 November 2012 – 24 February 2013) at the Art Gallery of NSW and Anish Kapoor (20 December 2012 – 1 April 2013) at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA).

This is the first major exhibition in Australia of rare works by the master of post-war British art, Francis Bacon. With over 50 rare paintings, some of them monumental in size, as well as photographs and archival material from Bacon’s studio, the exhibition covers every decade of his career and gives a fascinating insight into his life and work.

The epic public art of Anish Kapoor is powerful and beautiful, and the only way to experience it is up close and in person. Turner Prize-winning Kapoor is one of the world’s most celebrated sculptors working today, recently unveiling monumental works in London and Paris. The MCA exhibit spans two floors and is the artist’s most in-depth exhibition ever to come to Australia.

The Sydney International Art Series sees the city’s two pre-eminent art museums – the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the MCA – join forces to present this exciting annual art series in partnership with Destination NSW.

The NSW Government, through Destination NSW, is proud to support Francis Bacon: five decades, the first major exhibition in Australia of rare works by the master of post-war British art, as part of the 2012-13 Sydney International Art Series, a signature event on the NSW Events Calendar.

Following the great successes of The First Emperor: China’s entombed warriors in 2010–11 and Picasso: masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris in 2011–12, Francis Bacon: five decades is the third Art Gallery of New South Wales exhibition in the Sydney International Art Series.

Bringing the world’s most outstanding exhibitions to Sydney further strengthens our global city’s reputation as Australia’s cultural tourism hub. Francis Bacon: five decades is a compelling retrospective that provides Sydney residents and our visitors with a unique opportunity to view significant works from one of the world’s most important painters, spanning the entirety of his full and celebrated career.

The Hon Barry O’Farrell, MP
Premier of New South Wales