Billy Bain reclaims beach as Aboriginal space in AGNSW solo show
Dharug artist Billy Bain, 33, will present his solo exhibition 'By the River' at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) from 4 July to 8 November. The show features 11 colorful clay sculptures of Indigenous figures in beachwear, a four-meter soft eel sculpture adorned with 200 textile elements handwoven by his mother Kathleen Bain, and five landscape paintings of the Dyarubbin/Hawkesbury River. Bain, a surfer and son of champion surfer Rob Bain, sees his work as reclaiming the beach as an Aboriginal space, countering the 'bronzed Aussie' stereotype. The eel (burra in Dharug) serves as a metaphor for return. Bain, who is color-blind, also painted a self-portrait after the failed 2023 Indigenous voice referendum. His portrait of Rona Panangka Rubuntja was a 2025 Archibald Prize finalist.
Key facts
- Billy Bain is a Dharug artist aged 33.
- His solo exhibition 'By the River' runs from 4 July to 8 November at AGNSW.
- The show includes 11 clay sculptures, a 4m eel soft sculpture, and 5 landscape paintings.
- The eel sculpture has 200 textile elements by his mother Kathleen Bain.
- Bain's father is champion surfer Rob Bain.
- Bain is color-blind and painted a self-portrait after the 2023 Indigenous voice referendum.
- His portrait of Rona Panangka Rubuntja was a 2025 Archibald Prize finalist.
- The exhibition reclaims the beach as an Aboriginal sovereign space.
Entities
Artists
- Billy Bain
- Rob Bain
- Kathleen Bain
- Rona Panangka Rubuntja
Institutions
- Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW)
- Guardian
- Art Gallery of New South Wales
Locations
- Granville
- Sydney
- Avalon
- Sydney's northern beaches
- Dyarubbin/Hawkesbury river
- Pittwater
- Balgowlah
- Australia
- Dyarubbin/Hawkesbury River
- Sydney's Northern Beaches