Celebrating Jimmy John Thaiday and Alair Pambegan inclusion in the 5th National Indigenous Art Triennial

Artists News: Celebrating Jimmy Thaiday Jr and Alair Pambegan in After the Rain

Congratulations to Jimmy John Thaiday from Erub Arts and Alair Pambegan from Wik & Kugu Arts Centre for their powerful installations in the 5th National Indigenous Art Triennial: After the Rain.

Presented from 6 December 2025 to 27 April 2026 at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, the landmark exhibition brings together ten large-scale, immersive and multidisciplinary installations by leading First Nations artists from across Australia.

Led by Artistic Director Tony Albert, the Triennial celebrates intergenerational legacies and honours the cultural warriors of the past, present and future. The exhibition invites audiences to reflect on the power of art created on Country and the stories carried through it.

Albert describes the spirit of the exhibition as an open invitation:

‘I welcome everyone, to come and sit, reflect and respond to where we are, thinking and making art on Country. No matter where we come from, we can all engage through the universal language of visual art, and that’s why art is so powerful.’

Tony Albert

The exhibition features newly commissioned works by a dynamic group of artists including Aretha Brown, Dylan Mooney, Vincent Namatjira, Naminapu Maymuru-White, Thea Anamara Perkins, and others, alongside Thaiday and Pambegan. Together, their projects explore themes of renewal, resilience and cycles of cleansing—ideas captured in the exhibition’s title, After the Rain.

Following its presentation in Canberra, After the Rain will tour nationally, continuing to share these vital stories with audiences across the country.

The inclusion of Jimmy Thaiday Jr and Alair Pambegan in this major national exhibition highlights the strength and vision of artists working through Erub Arts and Wik & Kugu Arts Centre, and celebrates their important contributions to contemporary First Nations art.

The 5th National Indigenous Art Triennial: After the Rain

6 Dec 2025 – 27 Apr 2026

Exhibition details: https://nga.gov.au/exhibitions/fifth-national-indigenous-art-triennial/

National Gallery of Australia

Parkes Place Parkes ACT 2600

 nga.gov.au

Daily 10am–5pm