Australian Centre for Contemporary Art Relaunches NEW Exhibition Series

The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) in Melbourne has announced the seven artists participating in NEW26, marking the return of its NEW exhibition series after a decade-long hiatus. The initiative was originally launched in 2003 as a commissioning platform for emerging practitioners from across the country. This year’s edition—curated by Shelley McSpedden and Sophie Prince—will present new site-specific projects by Amanda Bell, Amanda Bennetts, Nicholas Currie, Naveed Farro, Caesar Florence-Howard, Diego Ramírez, and EJ Son. Spanning painting, audiovisual installation, ceramics, and text, the commissions will engage with pressing questions about AI technology, identity, the enduring impact of colonialism, and institutional responsibility. In a press release, ACCA artistic director and CEO Myles Russell-Cook noted: “Artists are always ahead of the curve when it comes to reading where culture is headed, and I’m delighted to bring back this significant series at a time when backing bold early-career work matters more than ever.” NEW26 will take place at ACCA from September 18 to November 22.

Ben Quilty Named First Ambassador for The Nature Conservancy Australia

The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental organization, has named Sydney-born artist Ben Quilty the first ambassador of its Australian outpost (TNC Australia). Quilty—who works closely with Indigenous communities throughout his practice—is known for creating impasto-style portraits and landscape paintings that explore themes of war, colonialism, and masculinity. As TNC Australia’s inaugural ambassador, Quilty will support the nonprofit’s efforts to promote eco-awareness to the broader public through storytelling and campaigns. In a press release, Quilty remarked, “For as long as I’ve been making art, the Australian landscape has been both my subject and my teacher. The deserts, the rivers, the coastlines—they’re not just backdrops to our lives. They shape who we are. . . . And they’re under pressure like never before.” He added that art can help people understand and emotionally connect with the natural world, thus “spark[ing] a sense of responsibility.” TNC Australia’s country director Lara Gallagher commented: “[Quilty’s] ability to capture both beauty and vulnerability makes him an extraordinary advocate. His voice will help more Australians see what’s at stake—and what’s worth protecting.”

Jitish Kallat Commissioned for the Menil Drawing Institute’s “Wall Drawing Series”

The Menil Collection in Houston, Texas, has commissioned Indian artist and curator Jitish Kallat for the eighth edition of the Menil Drawing Institute’s temporary “Wall Drawing Series.” First launched in 2018, the project invites international artists to create large-scale, site-specific drawings for the venue’s interior entry walls. Past commissioned artists include Marc Bauer, Mel Bochner, Roni Horn, Marcia Kure, Gladys Nilsson, Ronny Quevedo, and Jorinde Voigt. Born and based in Mumbai, Kallat works across painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, architectural intervention, and time-based media. He previously served as artistic director and curator of the second Kochi-Muziris Biennale (2014–15), and was recently appointed its president. Curated by Edouard Kopp, John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation chief curator at the Menil Drawing Institute, “Wall Drawing Series: Jitish Kallat” will be on view from September 10 through August 8, 2027.

ART KL to Debut in Kuala Lumpur

ART KL, a new contemporary art platform dedicated to emerging voices from Southeast Asia, will make its debut from October 15–18 at A Place Where (APW), a former printing factory turned lifestyle hub in Kuala Lumpur’s Bangsar district. The inaugural edition is organized by local art consultancy Art Anonymous and venue sponsor APW, alongside Richard Koh Art Advisory, with UOB as the main sponsor. Free to attend, the initiative blends a compact art fair with pop-up installations and public programs, centered on artists born after 1990. 10 galleries from across the region are participating in the event, including Makati City’s Finale Art File, Singapore’s Intersections, and Bangkok’s Warin Lab Contemporary, each mounting a solo- or duo-artist presentation. Running alongside the fair are site-specific installations by eight Malaysian artists. Talks, panel discussions, and a philanthropic auction round out the program, with proceeds from donated works supporting The Lighthouse Children’s Welfare Home, a Kuala Lumpur nonprofit. Richard Koh, founder of Richard Koh Art Advisory, noted in a press release: “ART KL was created as a platform for the next generation of Southeast Asian artists and for the communities that support them. We believe the strongest art ecosystems are built through connection, dialogue, and collaboration.”