The West Australian Pulse 2026 Showcases Youth Art at AGWA
The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) is set to showcase 'The West Australian Pulse 2026' from 16 May to 13 September 2026. Marking its thirty-fourth anniversary, this exhibition will highlight sixty-three pieces created by Year 12 Visual Arts graduates from forty-three Western Australian schools. The displayed artworks reflect the personal, social, and artistic issues faced by youth, exploring themes such as self-identity, cultural intersections, mental health, neurodiversity, sexuality, environmental issues, societal inequality, coping with loss, and the pressures of conformity in school and beyond. Among the featured pieces is Harley Wright's 'Next steps' (2025), a canvas painting (80 × 60 cm) using synthetic polymer paint, oil, and spray paint, from Ocean Reef Senior High School, captured by Christophe Canato, with the artist's and AGWA's permission.
Key facts
- The West Australian Pulse 2026 is on view at The Art Gallery of Western Australia from 16 May to 13 September 2026.
- The exhibition marks its thirty-fourth year.
- It features 63 works by 2025 Year 12 Visual Arts graduates from 43 schools across Western Australia.
- Themes include self-identity, cultural intersections, mental health, neurodiversity, sexuality, environmental concern, racial and societal inequality, processing loss, and social pressures.
- Harley Wright's 'Next steps' (2025) is one of the featured works, from Ocean Reef Senior High School.
- The photograph of Wright's work is by Christophe Canato.
- The exhibition is held in Western Australia.
- The works provide insight into young people's private, social, and artistic concerns.
Entities
Artists
- Harley Wright
Institutions
- The Art Gallery of Western Australia
- Ocean Reef Senior High School
- Art Almanac
Locations
- Western Australia