Acclaimed 'On Country' photography exhibition set for Australian return

By Tim Levy | 6 October 2026

Following its international debut at the Rencontres d'Arles in France, the major photographic exhibition On Country: Photography from Australia is set to open at Melbourne's Immigration Museum on Friday, 16 October 2026.

Michael Cook, *Majority Rule (Parliament), 2014*, from the series ‘Majority Rule’.
Courtesy of the artist and Jan Murphy Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane. Museums Victoria (supplied)

Running until Sunday, 13 June 2027, the showcase features the work of 17 contemporary artists and collectives from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous backgrounds.

Originally developed and produced by PHOTO Australia and co-produced by the Rencontres d'Arles, the exhibition was curated by Brendan McCleary, Pippa Milne, Elias Redstone, and Dr Kimberley Moulton.

Liss Fenwick, Nuptial flight, Humpty Doo, Larrakia Wulna country, from the series 'Humpty Doom', 2015-2023.
Courtesy of the artist. Museums Victoria (supplied) — Liss Fenwick, *Nuptial flight, Humpty Doo*, Larrakia Wulna country, from the series 'Humpty Doom', 2015-2023. Courtesy of the artist. Museums Victoria (supplied)

Through their lenses, artists from a variety of cultural backgrounds collaborate with Country, exploring profound stories of culture, movement, and identity.

The Immigration Museum serves as a fitting home for this important collection, continuing its legacy as a space dedicated to sharing the complex narratives of Australian life.

To mark the opening weekend, a special Curators' Tour will be held on Saturday, 17 October.

Tony Albert and David Charles Collins, Warakurna Superheroes #1, 2017, from the series ‘Warakurna Superheroes’.
Courtesy of Tony Albert, David Charles Collins and Kieran Lawson. Museums Victoria (supplied) — Tony Albert and David Charles Collins, *Warakurna Superheroes #1, 2017*, from the series ‘Warakurna Superheroes’. Courtesy of Tony Albert, David Charles Collins and Kieran Lawson. Museums Victoria (supplied)

Exhibition Details

What: On Country: Photography from Australia
Where: Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Dates: Friday 16 October 2026 – Sunday 13 June 2027
Tickets: Included with general museum entry (Adults $15, Seniors $12, Concession and Children 16 and under free)

Acclaimed 'On Country' photography exhibition set for Australian return

You can find out more on the Immigration Museum website.