11. Blak Douglas

Madrid is every bit enchanting with its elegant boulevards, expansive parks, royal palaces and charming plazas. Located at the geographical heart of the Iberian Peninsula, the Spanish capital boasts magnificent art treasures in The Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía museums. Join Brian Ladd as he explores the art and architecture of this sophisticated city and reveals why its history and culture make Madrid so fascinating and enchanting. 

Brian Ladd is past President of the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales, a specialist in European and Australian sculpture, and a graduate in sculpture from the National Art School, Sydney. From 1996 to 2010 he was Head of Public Programs Department, Art Gallery of New South Wales, and responsible for enlivening the Gallery and engaging diverse audiences with art.

Enchanting cities Madrid

Camellia Morris

Laura Jones

Janet Koongotema ‘Moun.aw – Archer River story place’

Frank Young ‘Kulata punu’

22. Julie Fragar

48. Evan Shipard

24. Jaq Grantford

20. Timothy Ferguson

16. Whitney Duan

19. David Fairbairn

15. Jonathan Dalton

53. Peter Wegner

44. Jason Phu

39. Vincent Namatjira

4. Mostafa Azimiabar

54. Kaylene Whiskey

2. Clara Adolphs

11. Peter Ke Heng Chen

1. Abdul Abdullah

10. Mathew Calandra

47. Sally Ryan

49. Loribelle Spirovski

6. Natasha Bieniek

56. Callum Worsfold

57. Lucila Zentner

55. Marcus Wills

8. Yuriyal Bridgeman

Travel Talks Lecture Series 2025 - Unearthing Ancient Greece, presented by Paul Donnelly. 

From Athens to Delphi, the Peloponnese to Crete, the past is never far away in Greece. Join Paul Donnelly as he delves into extraordinary artefacts – from a bronze helmet dedicated to Zeus, to fragments of pottery inscribed with nominations to exile powerful 5th century BCE personalities. Uncover the names of these artists, witness their friendships and rivalries, and unearth the past.

Paul Donnelly is Deputy Director of the Chau Chak Wing Museum at The University of Sydney. Donnelly has been a curator for over 30 years and his numerous exhibitions include 1000 years of the Olympic Games at the Powerhouse Museum, Treasures of the Benaki Museum and Object / Art / Specimen. He is a practising archaeologist and a co-director of the University of Sydney Zagora Archaeological Project on the Island of Andros, Greece. Donnelly is a founding member of the Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation and a Governor of the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens.


Paul Donnelly: Travel Talks - Unearthing Ancient Greece

Travel Talks Lecture Series 2025 - Silk and Saffron: A Journey through Cambodia and Laos, presented by Joyce Morgan. 

Join Joyce Morgan and discover the unique spirit of Cambodia and Laos. These neighbours are linked by the Mekong River, Buddhist culture and the creation of jewel-like silk textiles. However, they also present a study in cultural contrasts.

Cambodia is home to the magnificent capital of the Khmer Empire and the splendour of the Angkor Wat temple complex. In its bustling present-day capital, Phnom Penh, is an unparalleled collection of Khmer art. Lesser-known Laos enchants with its laid-back, French-influenced former royal capital Luang Prabang, alms-gathering monks and natural beauty.

Joyce Morgan is a journalist and author who has written on arts and culture for 30 years. She is former arts editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and a Getty Arts Journalism Fellow, and has worked as a journalist in London, Hong Kong and Sydney. She has travelled widely in Asia, including Indonesia, East Timor, India, Pakistan, China and Bhutan, and has led Art Gallery Society members on tours to Bhutan, China, Java, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan. 


Joyce Morgan: Travel Talks - Silk and Saffron: A Journey through Cambodia and Laos

Travel Talks Lecture Series 2025 - South-east China: Art, Nature and Cultural Heritage, presented by Jeremy Clarke. 

Uncover the hidden dimensions of southern China. Join Jeremy Clarke as he examines the country’s ancient waterways, iconic landscapes, rapid urbanisation, and how these elements have shaped the nation’s economic and cultural practices.

Clarke will explore the fusion of Portuguese and Chinese influences in Macau to the local food traditions and significance of the giant panda in Chengdu. Together, you’ll traverse the Li River, whose landscapes have long been a subject of artistic inspiration, to the mountain ravines echoing the traditional Chinese painting style shanshui. 

Jeremy Clarke is a historian and writer. He speaks Mandarin and has guided groups throughout China over many years. His interests include east-west cultural exchange, Chinese gardens, art and architecture, and Chinese-Australian history.


Jeremy Clarke: Travel Talks - South-east China: Art, Nature and Cultural Heritage

Claude Lorrain 'Pastoral landscape' 1636-1637, oil on copper, 27.9 x 34.7 cm panel; 43.1 x 50.0 x 6.0 cm frame. Not signed. Not dated. Gift of James Fairfax AC 1992.

http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/208.1992/

Claude Lorrain Pastoral landscape

Sano di Pietro 'Madonna and Child with Saints Jerome, John the Baptist, Bernardino and Bartholomew' 1450-1481, gold leaf and tempera on panel, 60.5 x 43.2 cm panel; 93.5 x 52.2 x 9.0 cm frame. Not signed. Not dated. Gift of John Fairfax and Sons Ltd. to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Sydney Morning Herald 1971.

http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/151.1971/

Sano di Pietro Madonna and Child with Saints Jerome, John the Baptist, Bernardino and Bartholomew

Vincent Namatjira

Art Gallery of NSW

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