Step into Brian Robinson’s Multiverse at Newcastle Art Gallery
From Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, August 30, 2026, Newcastle Art Gallery will present Brian Robinson: Multiverse.
Celebrating Cairns-based Torres Strait Islander artist Brian Robinson, this major solo exhibition is the most comprehensive public display of his work to date.
Multiverse brings together over a decade of Robinson’s monumental linocut prints, larger-than-life sculptures, and an immersive digital animation experience. It is set to be a standout cultural experience for Newcastle this winter.
Brian Robinson Ur Wayii Credit - Marinco Kojdanovski_Courtesy AMM
Timed as part of Newcastle Art Gallery’s landmark reopening year, Multiverse arrives at a significant moment for the city. Officially reopening in February 2026 following its major expansion, Newcastle Art Gallery now enters a bold new chapter as the largest public art institution in NSW outside Sydney.
With a nationally renowned collection and an ambitious exhibition program, the revitalised Gallery has quickly become one of the region’s must-visit cultural destinations.
Against this exciting backdrop, Robinson’s exhibition promises an experience that is vivid, immersive, and unlike anything else on show.
Brian Robinson, Maluyligal/Wuthathi/Daya k peoples, Mapping the cosmos from kisai, 2018. Image courtesy the artist and Mossenson Galleries, Perth © the artis
Raised on Waiben/Thursday Island and of Maluyligal and Wuthathi cultural heritage, Robinson is widely recognised for a distinctive visual language that brings together Torres Strait minaral design, contemporary iconography, and powerful storytelling.
Robinson creates detail-rich visual universes where superheroes, sea creatures, Torres Strait Islander storytelling, and pop culture motifs collide, from Astro Boy, Star Wars, Pokémon, science fiction, cartoons, and Japanese anime to biblical stories, mythology, the Western art canon, Australia’s colonial invasion, and 1980s computer games, making the exhibition a vibrant visual feast.
Brian Robinson: Multiverse
Where: Newcastle Art Gallery, 1 Laman St, Cooks Hill
Date: 23 May – 30 August 2026
Cost: Admission is $20 adult
$18 concession/member
$15 tertiary student
$8 child/teen (5–17)
$50 family group, with free entry for children under 5.
To purchase tickets visit Brian Robinson: Multiverse
Opening Event
Join the Newcastle Art Gallery for the openings of Brian Robinson: Multiverse, The Mordant Family Gift, and Tiyan Baker: Mouth Mnemonica.
Celebrate with the exhibiting artists, the community, and supporters as the Newcastle Art Gallery launches its first season of ambitious 2026 temporary exhibitions within the expanded Gallery.
When: Friday 22 May, 5.30pm - 8.00pm
Cost: $25 including exhibition entry and drink on arrival. Bookings recommended.
Brian Robinson, Maluyligal/Wuthathi/Dayak peoples, By virtue of this act I hereby take possession of this land, 2017. Newcastle Art Gallery, Australia, purchased through the Gil Docking Bequest 2017 © the artist
What makes Multiverse especially compelling is the way it balances cultural depth with a strong sense of discovery and wonder. Robinson’s works are richly layered, packed with detail and movement, drawing audiences in again and again. There is a futuristic energy to the exhibition, but it is never disconnected from place or heritage. Instead, tradition and innovation work side by side, creating an experience that is both visually spectacular and deeply resonant.
Audiences will also be invited to engage with the exhibition through a wide range of offerings, including a Multiverse-themed “Spotto” activity sheet for kids, an audio guide, public programs, and a free Friday Night Sounds event on May 29 featuring Zipporah Anu.
Brian Robinson, Maluyligal/Wuthathi/Dayak peoples, Up in the Heavens the Gods contemplate their next move (Secret charms are given to man), 2012-13. Newcastle Art Gallery, Australia, donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Brian Robinson 2021 © the artist
For Newcastle audiences, Brian Robinson: Multiverse is more than an exhibition to see; it is one to step inside. Accessible, visually compelling and culturally significant, it offers a powerful reason to visit Newcastle Art Gallery and experience one of the city’s major arts highlights of 2026.
The opening on May 22 also marks the launch of two other exhibitions in the Autumn/Winter season: The Mordant Family Gift and Tiyan Baker’s Mouth Mnemonica.
