Melbourne’s art exhibitions are matching the weather this spring – they’re weird and unpredictable (and we like it). There’s an exhibition dedicated to furry friends, another all about parasites and one that revisits sci-fi through a non-Western lens. There are also blockbuster shows celebrating prominent Australian artists Reko Rennie and Tony Clark.

Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design, Heide

Showcasing Italy’s rich history of craftsmanship and its post-war economic boom, this exhibition brings an eclectic range of modernist designs to Australia. It features over 180 objects including furniture company Gufram’s distinctive Pratone – a grass-inspired chaise lounge. There’s also a Vespa, an original Italian coffee maker and a 1957 Fiat Nuova 500.
Until March 23, 2025.

Sci-Fi: Mythologies Transformed, Science Gallery Melbourne

This free exhibition brings together the visions of 29 artists and collectives, who are all merging art and technology to reinterpret classic Western sci-fi narratives and tropes. Across nine chapters, the interactive exhibition explores science fiction’s possible roots in Asian philosophy and spirituality. It also platforms female and diverse cultural voices in a way that Western sci-fi typically has not. It includes a reimagining of the Hindu goddess of fertility, Lakshmi, as an environmental saviour, and a demon who punishes adults for misusing social media.
Until May 2025.

We think you might like Access. For $12 a month, join our membership program to stay in the know.

SIGN UP

Tennant Creek Brio, ACCA

Tennant Creek Brio, an all-male artist collective working on Warumungu Country in the Northern Territory, first converged in 2016, when the group initiated an outreach program at the local men’s centre, the Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation. Eight years later, ACCA presents its first major survey. The free exhibition explores missions, the mining industry, Aboriginal cultural heritage, regional and global art influences, and more – all through the lens of a frontier community. The installations, paintings, video works and collages on display investigate the personal, political and historical.
Until November 17.

Rekospective: The Art of Reko Rennie, Ian Potter Centre

Picture this: a bright pink 1973 Holden Monaro cruising through Melbourne’s west, its number plate “ACAB 1” spinning as the car moves through a series of burnouts, an operatic soundtrack rising in the background. This is Initiation OA_RR a three-piece video installation from Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie, which is one of the artworks on display in his first retrospective. The exhibition brings together over 100 of Rennie’s works and unpacks the artist’s experience as an Aboriginal man in contemporary society.
Until January 27, 2025.

Maria Kozic: Parasite, Neon Parc

Do parasites scare you? In a new series of paintings for Neon Parc, Kozic explores the parasite as an analogy for humankind, detailing each parasitic form with human-like eyes. The Australian artist’s art unpacks the way parasites can be characterised in a post-pandemic world.
Until November 16.

Gertrude Studios 2024, Gertrude Contemporary

If you want to know who Melbourne’s up-and-coming artists are, look to the annual Gertrude Studios exhibition, which has presented new works from rising artists since 1985. This free exhibition offers a snapshot of the 13 fresh faces in contemporary art, including photo, video and performance artist Arini Byng; poet, installation and print-maker Chunxiao Qu; and sculpture and installation artist Moorina Bonini.
Until December 15.

Tony Clark: Unsculpted, Buxton Contemporary

Tony Clark is one of Australia’s most important artists, with his diverse and exploratory work coloured by a sense of punk irreverence. In Tony Clark: Unsculpted, Buxton Contemporary brings together over 100 works from the artist’s 40-year career. Described as “unclassifiable”, Clark’s practice spans chromatic landscapes, sculpture and painting. This is the biggest presentation of his work since 1998.
Until June 1, 2025.

Cats & Dogs, NGV Australia

Throughout history, cats and dogs have held a special place in human hearts. This exhibition at the Ian Potter Centre pays tribute to their important role in our lives and their impact on visual culture. Bringing together over 200 works from the gallery’s collection – including art by Alexander McQueen, Pierre Bonnard, Jeff Koons, Grace Cossington Smith and Rembrandt van Rijn – the exhibition shows how pets have inspired artists and designers since antiquity.
Until July 20, 2025.

Additional reporting by Emma Joyce.