First Tamara Dean retrospective exhibition heads to Manly

Australian photomedia artist Tamara Dean is the subject of her first major survey exhibition, with a retrospective now on show at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum until 2 August 2026.

Organised by the Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh), the travelling exhibition brings together more than a decade of Dean's work across 11 significant bodies of work, charting the evolution of one of Australia's most distinctive contemporary photographic voices.

Dean began her career as a photojournalist with The Sydney Morning Herald, where she worked from 2001 to 2014, becoming known for capturing intimate, reflective moments between subject and photographer.

Following the birth of her first child, her practice shifted from documentary photography towards conceptual image-making, with a growing focus on humanity's relationship with the natural world.

The exhibition explores themes including rites of passage, ritual, motherhood and transformation, while reflecting Dean's ongoing interest in our connection to nature and the need to protect it.

Designed as an immersive experience, the exhibition combines photography with installation, moving image and scent, encouraging visitors to engage with the work through multiple senses.

The exhibition is presented as part of Manly Art Gallery & Museum’s Collective for Environmental Art & Design (CEAD) program, which showcases artists exploring environmental themes through contemporary practice.

Tamara Dean is on display at Manly Art Gallery & Museum from 12 June to 2 August 2026.

You can find out more here.