The Commercial | Mitch Cairns news

» 30/12/2024: It is a pleasure to announce that two paintings from Mitch Cairns’ solo presentation by The Commercial at Sydney Contemporary have been acquired by major collections: Ballpoint by The Wesfarmers Collection, Perth, and Adelaide Painting by Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane.
» 14/12/2024: The Art Gallery of New South Wales is presenting a solo show by Mitch Cairns in 2025. Restless Legs will be Mitch Cairns’ first solo exhibition at the AGNSW. His paintings ‘take inspiration from the world outside his inner-city studio, from nature and the built environment to the working lives of the people around him. They are immediately recognisable for their stylised imagery, refined brushwork and restricted colour palette. […] questions of class, labour, communication and regionalism’ appear elsewhere in the exhibition along with tributes to literary influences. The exhibition will highlight the breadth and diversity of the artist’s practice. exhibition: 08.03.25 — 09.06.25
» 02/09/2024: The Commercial is exhibiting at Sydney Contemporary at Carriageworks with a solo exhibition by Mitch Cairns in Booth H02. Jude Rae's solo exhibition at the gallery in Marrickville will be open regular visiting hours: Thursday — Saturday, 11 — 4. Sydney Contemporary dates: 05.09.24 — 08.09.24. The gallery is a 10 minute drive from the art fair.
» 05/08/2024: The Commercial is looking forward to presenting a solo exhibition by Mitch Cairns at Sydney Contemporary at Carriageworks 05 — 08.09.24. Cairns brings a signature combination of wit and discipline to his figurative oil paintings. The Commercial is in Booth H02. Contact the gallery to receive a preview of works ahead of the fair via this link.
» 20/03/2024: The National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, has announced Mitch Cairns as a finalist in the Darling Portrait Prize 2024. The judges of this year's $ 75,000 prize are Bree Pickering, Director, National Portrait Gallery; Erin Vink, Curator First Nations Art (local and global), Art Gallery of New South Wales and Tara Heffernan, Art Historian and Critic. Winner announced 21.06.24. Exhibition: 22.06.24 — 22.09.24
» 29/09/2023: Mitch Cairns is shortlisted for Still: National Still Life Award 2023 with his vinyl and dry pastel on linen work, Belfry. The biennial acquisitive award is hosted by Yarrila Arts and Museum, Coffs Harbour, the prize will be announced by judge, Max Delany, Artistic Director and CEO, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne on 07.10.23.
» 27/07/2023: The Commercial is looking forward to exhibiting at Sydney Contemporary 07.09.23 — 10.09.23. We will be presenting a group exhibition in Booth F16 with works by Archie Moore, Augusta Vinall Richardson, Jazz Money, Jude Rae and Mitch Cairns. Please contact the gallery via this link to receive advanced preview of works.
» 27/04/2023: Congratulations to Mitch Cairns announced today as a finalist in the 2023 Archibald Prize with his portrait of fellow artist, Elizabeth Pulie. The winner of the Archibald is announced 05.05.23. The exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales takes place from 06.05.23 — 03.09.23. Mitch previously won the $ 100,000 prize in 2017 with a portrait of Agatha Gothe-Snape.
» 17/12/2022: LIGHTMOVING final week special hours. The Commercial will be open special hours for the final week of 2022. Wednesday 21.12.22 — Friday 23.12.22 inclusive, 11 — 4. We hope you can visit to see this group exhibition with works by Augusta Vinall Richardson, Jazz Money and Mitch Cairns.
» 06/10/2022: Mitch Cairns is presenting a solo exhibition 102.5fm at the Sydney artist- run-space Knulp. Opening Thursday 13.10.22, 6-8pm.
» 28/09/2022: It is a pleasure to announce that Mitch Cairns’ painting Coloured Glass (for Roland), exhibited in the 2022 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Free/State, has been acquired by Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
» 18/07/2022: Mitch Cairns is judging the 2022 Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship, an award for young painters won by Cairns in 2012. The Brett Whiteley Studio, administered by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, awards an annual travelling art scholarship to artists aged between 20 and 30 for an established body of work. For the 2022 scholarship, the Studio will offer two types of residencies under the one application: a residency at the Cité internationale des arts, Paris, for one artist, and a two-week residency at Shark Island Kangaroo Valley for five artists. Applications close 1 August. Further information at this link.
» 01/06/2022: Mitch Cairns, Patrick Hartigan, Anna Kristensen, Nigel Milsom, Jude Rae and Tim Schultz are exhibiting in the group exhibition, Zombie Eaters, at Murray Art Museum Albury. Curated by Michael Moran, Zombie Eaters looks to celebrate the strengths in recent Australian figurative painting.17.06.2022 — 16.10.2022
» 18/03/2022: Mitch Cairns' artist talk at the Art Gallery of South Australia, on 05/03/22 in conversation with Leigh Robb as part of the public program for the Adelaide Biennial: Free/State, is available to listen to online at this link.
» 03/03/2022: Mitch Cairns is giving an artist talk at the Art Gallery of South Australia Saturday 05/03/22, 12 noon, about his works for the Adelaide Biennial: Free/State. Free to public,
» 01/03/2022: Mitch Cairns has created a major new body of work for the 2022 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Free/State opening this week at the Art Gallery of South Australia. The Adelaide Biennial is Australia’s longest-standing survey of contemporary Australian art. This iteration curated by Sebastian Goldspink. Exhibition 04/03/22 - 05/06/22
» 01/10/2021: In light of the cancellation of the physical art fair at Carriageworks, The Commercial will be participating in Explore Sydney Contemporary with a group show of new paintings by Mitch Cairns, Nigel Milsom and Jude Rae. The online event takes place 11/11/21 - 21/11/21. During this time, we will install our presentation intended for the art fair at the gallery in Marrickville. Contact the gallery via this link to receive a preview of artworks.
» 15/09/2021: Mitch Cairns has been announced as one of 25 artists invited to participate in the 2022 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Free/State at the Art Gallery of South Australia curated by Sebastian Goldspink. The Adelaide Biennial is the longest-running curated survey of contemporary Australian art. Exhibition dates 04/03/22 - 05/06/22.
» 01/09/2021: The Commercial is looking forward to exhibiting at Sydney Contemporary 11/11/21 - 14/11/21 (revised dates). We are presenting an exhibition of figurative painting by Mitch Cairns, Nigel Milsom and Jude Rae. Concurrent with the art fair at nearby Carriageworks will be a solo exhibition at The Commercial by New York-based Anna Kristensen. Click here to receive advance preview of works for Sydney Contemporary and Anna Kristensen's exhibition.
» 09/07/2021: Mitch Cairns is exhibiting in the group exhibition This is a Poem, curated by Melissa Keys, at Buxton Contemporary, Melbourne. "Bringing contemporary art and poetry into dialogue, This is a poem is a multi-disciplinary project encompassing new commissions in a diverse mix of media and forms, live performances, a publication and an exhibition. The project draws notable artists and poets into creative discourse." Mitch Cairns was invited to create a visual identity for the exhibition (in the form of a series of A4 Letraset collages) and has created a new text work in response to a work of art by Peter Tyndall in the Buxton collection. exhibition 09/07/21 - 14/11/21
» 22/03/2021: Mitch Cairns is exhibiting major new work in the biennial exhibition The National 2021: New Australian Art at Carriageworks, Sydney, curated by Abigail Moncrief. exhibition 26/03/21 – 20/06/21.
» 16/11/2020: Congratulations to Mitch Cairns and Agatha Gothe-Snape announced yesterday as exhibiting artists in The National 2021: New Australian Art, the third iteration of the biennial event presented across the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and Carriageworks. Opening 26/03/21.
» 12/08/2020: Mitch Cairns has been invited as a finalist in the 2020 The King’s School Art Prize. Maud Page, Deputy Director/Director of Collections at the Art Gallery of New South Wales is judging the annual prize in its 41st year. Announced 11/09/20.
» 28/04/2020: It is a pleasure to announce that Mitch Cairns’ Self-portrait as a Lemon Tree, exhibited in his recent solo exhibition Waylaid S T O O P at The Commercial, has been acquired by Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne. It is the second work by Cairns in the MUMA collection which is also home to his 2017 Archibald Prize-winning portrait of fellow artist, Agatha Gothe-Snape.
» 27/03/2020: Coinciding with his brilliant solo exhibition, Waylaid S T O O P, The Commercial has invited Mitch Cairns to takeover the gallery's Instagram and Facebook posts for the next week 28/03/20 - 03/04/20.
» 25/03/2020: In the best interests of the community, in order to minimise circulation and contact, from today The Commercial will be open online only. We continue to be fully operational for email and phone communication. We also intend to continue our 2020 exhibition program as much as possible as planned going forward with full content online as usual. We regret that it will not be possible to visit us at Jabez Street until further notice. We hope you enjoy viewing Mitch Cairns' stunning exhibition, Waylaid S T O O P, on our website at this link. Please stay safe and well, love The Commercial.
» 18/03/2020: The Commercial is deeply concerned about the seriousness of the Covid-19 situation and is tailoring all gallery activities and processes to minimise risk. We will however be at the gallery during regular visting hours (Wednesday-Friday 12-5, Saturday 11-5). To make a contactless visit to the gallery, please call us when you are at the front door (02 8096 3292) rather than ringing doorbell, and we will let you in. Mitch Cairns' solo exhibition, Waylaid S T O O P, will be on view until 09/04/20, or experience the exhibition online on The Commercial website (at this link). We are responding to emails, phonecalls and Instagram/Facebook messages as usual. Please contact us if you would like to receive details of available works.
» 26/02/2020: The Commercial will be open regular hours throughout Biennale of Sydney preview week - 11/03/20 - 14/03/20. Mitch Cairns' solo exhibition, Waylaid S T O O P, will be on in the main gallery as well as practice practice practice, a Hallway Project show by Anna Peters.
» 10/10/2019: Congratulations to Mitch Cairns on the opening tonight of his curatorial project, Primavera 2019: Young Australian Artists, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and congratulations to all the artists involved in the exhibition: Mitchel Cumming, Rosina Gunjarrwanga, Lucina Lane, Aodhan Madden, Kenan Namunjdja, Zoe Marni Robertson, Coen Young. Primavera is the MCA’s annual exhibition of young Australian artists aged 35 and under. Since 1992, the Primavera series has showcased the works of artists in the early stages of their career. Each year, a curator is invited to select artists from across Australia that they feel represent current trends and styles emerging in the next generation. Primavera 2019 is the 28th edition of the exhibition. It is the first time artist Mitch Cairns has been invited to curate an exhibition in a public institution. Primavera 2019 MCA exhibition dates: 11/10/19 - 09/02/20.
» 20/03/2019: Mitch Cairns is exhibiting work in The Whiteley at 20: Twenty Years of the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship at S.H. Ervin Gallery. “The exhibition features works by Sally Anderson, Alice Byrne, Mitch Cairns, James Drinkwater, Petrea Fellow, Becky Gibson, Nathan Hawkes, Alan Jones, Nicole Kelly, Belem Lett, Lucy O’Doherty, Wayde Owen, Timothy Phillips, Tom Polo, Ben Quilty, Karlee Rawkins, Samuel Wade, Amber Wallis, Natasha Walsh, and Marcus Wills, alongside the four paintings by Brett Whiteley that secured him the Italian Government Travelling Scholarship, displayed together for the first time since 1959. The exhibition presents the works by each artist that were entered and/ or won the scholarship, works resulting from their residency at the Cite Internationale des Art, Paris and recent work.“ Mitch Cairns was the recipient of The Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship in 2012. A catalogue has been produced to accompany the exhibition. Exhibition dates: 22/03/18 - 05/05/19
» 11/01/2019: Mitch Cairns' 2014 portrait of philanthropist, Reg Richardson, is currently on exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, as part of the exhibition, Electric! Portraits that Pop! The painting was runner-up in the 2014 Archibald Prize and is part of the permanent collection of the NPG. Exhibition continues until 22/04/19.
» 30/11/2018: We are excited to be presenting the inaugural exhibition at our new address: Mitch Cairns - Soliloquy Workshop, 04/12/18 - 22/12/18 at 5/4 Jabez Street, Marrickville. Images online soon.
» 16/11/2018: This week, The Commercial moved out of 148 Abercrombie Street, Redfern, its home since opening in 2012. We are currently completing renovations at our new address in Marrickville. The program at the new space will commence with Soliloquy Workshop, a solo exhibition by Mitch Cairns which we very much look forward to sharing with you soon.
» 04/10/2018: Congratulations to Mitch Cairns announced today as curator of Primavera 2019: Young Australian Artists at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Primavera is the MCA’s annual exhibition of young Australian artists aged 35 and under. Since 1992, the Primavera series has showcased the works of artists in the early stages of their career. Each year, a curator is invited to select artists from across Australia that they feel represent current trends and styles emerging in the next generation. Primavera 2019 will be the 28th edition of the exhibition. It is the first time artist Cairns (b. 1984) has been invited to curate an exhibition in a public institution. He has a been involved in artist-run-initiatives in Sydney as a founder and committee member for over a decade. Primavera 2019 exhibition dates: 11 October 2019 - 9 February 2020.
» 25/08/2018: Mitch Cairns and Agatha Gothe-Snape have works included in 'The Horse', a group exhibition of works on paper curated by Noel McKenna at Darren Knight Gallery. Exhibition dates: 25 August - 22 September
» 15/08/2018: Mitch Cairns is one of 50 National Art School Alumni included in 'National Art - Part One' at the NAS Gallery in Sydney. The exhibition features works from graduates spanning seven decades, from 1947-2018, and presents 165 works donated to the NAS Collection. Exhibition dates: 14/08/18 - 27/10/18
» 09/06/2018: Agatha Gothe-Snape and Mitch Cairns have works exhibited in 'Bowerbird: Clinton Bradley and the Art of Collecting' at the Western Plains Cultural Centre, curated by Kent Buchanan. 'For Clinton Bradley collecting is more than just amassing works, it is a creative dialogue with the artist, dealer, and audience. Bradley has been collecting art since 2007 and now has a collection of works by some of Australia's most sought-after artists; spanning sculpture, digital and conceptual art.' Exhibition dates: 09/06/18 - 26/08/18
» 10/01/2018: Anna Kristensen, Bonita Bub and Mitch Cairns are included in a group show, Unreal City, curated by Sarah Rees at Firstdraft, Sydney. “Unreal City is an exhibition of painting and sculpture by Australian contemporary artists. The exhibition traces art and architecture back and forth through historical and social associations. Artisanal traditions are conflated with contemporary modes of practice to create a new vernacular. Classical iconography is juxtaposed with mass-produced, industrial materials. Lyrical imagery and whimsical forms morph into utilitarian objects and vice-versa. The title of the exhibition (after Mario Merz) describes the absurdity of these confounding elements. Unreal City references traditions of Minimalism and Arte Povera in its examination of objects, structures and spacial relationships. In the context of the virtual contemporary, it is an elegy to the material world.” Opening Wednesday 10/01/18, 6 - 8 pm. Exhibition dates: 10/01/18 – 28/01/18
» 01/11/2017: "Painting works for me because the brief is very simple: I just have to fill in the frame." Mitch Cairns in video interview with Agatha Gothe-Snape, subject of winning Archibald Prize portrait, on the Art Gallery of New South Wales' YouTube channel.
» 26/09/2017: It is a pleasure to announce that Mitch Cairns' portrait of Agatha Gothe-Snape that won the 2017 Archibald Prize has been acquired by Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne.
» 11/08/2017: Interview on ABC Arts with Agatha Gothe-Snape and Mitch Cairns on the confluence of their divergent art practices in the context of the launch of Gothe-Snape's Biennale of Sydney Legacy Artwork commission in Surry Hills and Cairns' recent Archibald Prize win.
» 01/08/2017: Mitch Cairns and Agatha Gothe-Snape are in conversation about Archibald Prize win with Richard Glover at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Wednesday 02/08/17, 6.30pm duration: 30mins. Free.
» 28/07/2017: Huge congratulations to Mitch Cairns announced today as the winner of the Archibald Prize 2017 for his portrait of fellow artist and partner, Agatha Gothe-Snape. It is the fourth time Cairns (b. 1984) has been a finalist in the $100,000 prize which is in its 96th year. Both Cairns and Gothe-Snape are represented by The Commercial. The Archibald exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales opens to the public tomorrow and continues until 22/10/17.
» 20/07/2017: Congratulations to Mitch Cairns announced this morning as a finalist in the 2017 Archibald Portrait Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales for his portrait of fellow artist and partner, Agatha Gothe-Snape. Both Cairns and Gothe-Snape are represented by The Commercial. ‘In this painting, Agatha is both an active subject and a recalcitrant muse embracing and resisting simultaneously any idea of what it is to be fixed. Ultimately this is what is most attractive about Agatha. She embodies an uncompromising agency whilst having the grace to accept the ready complications inherent within our life as artists,’ says Mitch Cairns. ‘I composed this portrait with love in the full knowledge of its inevitable and palpable quake.’ The Archibald winner is announced Friday 28/07/17. Exhibition dates 29/07/17 - 08/10/17.
» 17/07/2017: The Commercial is looking forward to exhibiting at Sydney Contemporary at Carriageworks, 7-10 September, 2017. We are presenting our largest art fair stand to date with all new works by Bonita Bub, bonMitch Cairns, Diena Georgetti, Patrick Hartigan, Anna Kristensen and Oscar Perry. Please contact the gallery to receive a preview of works in the lead up to the fair. Stand E06
» 15/07/2017: Mitch Cairns is exhibiting new work in Grounded, a major alumni exhibition at NAS Gallery at the National Art School in Sydney. The exhibition is curated by Judith Blackall and includes works by Mitch Cairns, Karla Dickens, Newell Harry, Jumaadi, James Nguyen, Addison Marshall, Joan Ross and Justine Varga. Exhibition dates 18/08/17 - 14/10/17.
» 17/05/2017: Congratulations to Mitch Cairns for being one of 37 artists shortlisted for the $50,000, acquisitive Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize at Bendigo Art Gallery. Exhibition dates 17/06/17-20/08/17. List of artists on BAG website. Winner announced Friday 16/06/17, 6pm
» 12/04/2017: Mitch Cairns is presenting some new drawings and sculpture in a two-person exhibition, TUG OF WAR (ROPE), TUG OF LOVE (BON-BON), with Matthew Tumbers at the Sydney artist-run-initiative, KNULP, opening Friday 14/04/17, 6-8pm.
» 11/02/2017: Coverage of Mitch Cairns' exhibition, Stray Geranium, at the end of last year in the Sydney round up by Wes Hill on Frieze.com.
» 02/09/2016: On the first day of the exhibition, Painting. More Painting, Mitch Cairns is giving an artist talk at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne. 3pm, Saturday 03/09/16.
» 04/07/2016: Mitch Cairns and Diena Georgetti are two of fourteen focus artists whose work will be given solo presentations in the larger exhibition Painting. More Painting at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, curated by Max Delany, Annika Kristensen and Hannah Mathews. "Painting. More Painting will be the first major institutional exhibition of contemporary Australian painting in over a decade. The work of fourteen influential Australian painters will be presented in a series of solo studies offering in-depth insights into the evolution of these artists’ interests, techniques and approaches. These will be complemented by an extensive panoramic survey presented in ACCA’s main exhibition hall that brings together works by over sixty senior, mid and early-career Australian artists, offering audiences the chance to draw on the many diverse conceptual, polemic and stylistic connections that exist between generations." Painting. More Painting. will be presented in two chapters: Chapter 1: 29 July – 28 August 2016, Chapter 2: 1 – 25 September 2016. Cairns and Georgetti are both producing a series of new works that will be presented in Chapter 2 of the exhibition.
» 20/06/2016: Mitch Cairns' portrait of philanthropist Reg Richardson recently acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra is currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery alongside Howard Arkley's portrait of Nick Cave and Adam Cullen's portrait of Neil Armfield. Cairns' portrait of Richardson was runner-up in the 2014 Archibald Portrait Prize. An article about the painting features in the current issue of the NPG's magazine, Portrait.
» 31/03/2016: The Commercial is looking forward to exhibiting at Auckland Art Fair 25-29 May 2016. Presented will be a group exhibition of all new works by Mitch Cairns, Gunter Christmann, Diena Georgetti, Agatha Gothe-Snape, Narelle Jubelin and Clare Milledge. (Stand A5)
» 01/02/2016: MItch Cairns' book, THE READER'S VOICE, that accompanies his solo exhibition of the same name at Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne, is being launched at The Cross Art + Books Saturday 06/02/16, 4-6pm. 33 Roslyn Street, Kings Cross. All welcome. THE READER'S VOICE is published by Gang Atelier. Collages from the book are viewable on The Commercial website and available for purchase.
» 31/01/2016: Interview with Mitch Cairns as part of the Art Sets series about some of his favourite works in the Art Gallery of New South Wales collection.
» 12/12/2015: It is a pleasure to announce that Mitch Cairns' work Reg Richardson AM has been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra.
» 01/10/2015: Mitch Cairns is presenting a solo, project exhibition, The Reader's Voice, at Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne, curated by Linda Michael. The exhibition includes a large new group of collages, a bronze and substantial new artist book that documents the new work. "Somewhere between cartoons, writing, and concrete poetry, these collages by Mitch Cairns are inspired by all these forms, and by music. As with his painting, he imposes limits that paradoxically allow freer expression; for example using French, a language he doesn’t speak, or letters to make images. Cairns plays with thoughts, ideas and memories with great economy and wit, using the now-defunct Letraset, and Zazzle stickers of images from a personal archive." exhibition dates: 24 October - 21 February.
» 27/09/2015: Mitch Cairns is exhibiting a large group of cartoons in the exhibition DEADPAN - Five Contemporary Australian Artists and Humour, curated by Abigail Moncrieff, at Goulburn Regional Art Gallery. The exhibition includes work by Mitch Cairns, Heath Franco, Ronnie van Hout, Z. O'Mahoney and Nat Thomas. Exhibition dates: 02/10/15 - 21/11/15.
» 16/09/2015: It is a pleasure to announce that Mitch Cairns' work Peter Powditch has been acquired by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.
» 25/08/2015: The Commercial is exhibiting for the second consecutive year at the biennial Sydney Contemporary art fair, 10/09/15-13/09/15, at Carriageworks. It will present a group exhibition in the Current Contemporary section - Booth A01 - with all new works by Mitch Cairns, Diena Georgetti, Emily Hunt, Narelle Jubelin, Clare Milledge, Lillian O'Neil and Robert Pulie. In addition to the gallery's stand, Stephen Ralph has been selected for the Installation Contemporary section, curated by The Curators' Department (Glenn Barkley, Ivan Muñiz Reed and Holly Williams). A large group of Ralph's cast concrete sculptures will be exhibited. Information about fair opening hours and tickets for opening night is available on the Sydney Contemporary website.
» 18/07/2015: Nice coverage of recent group exhibition, TPOLR, at The Commercial, by Patrick Hartigan in his piece in this weekend's The Saturday Paper.
» 17/07/2015: Huge congratulations to Mitch Cairns for being awarded runner-up for the second consecutive year in the $ 100,000 Archibald Portrait Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales for his portrait of fellow painter, Peter Powditch. The Archibald is on exhibition at the AGNSW until 27/09/15 before it goes on its regional gallery tour. Tour details on the AGNSW website.
» 09/07/2015: Congratulations to Mitch Cairns for being selected as a finalist in the 2015 Archibald Prize with his portrait of painter, Peter Powditch. "I was drawn to the idea of painting Peter after attending the recent POP to Popism exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW. The inclusion of Powditch’s Seascape II to my mind reaffirmed the significance of his work. In general, Peter’s work is characterised by a directness of purpose, exemplary draftsmanship and an incisive approach to painting problems. He is an unapologetic image-maker." (Cairns) The Archibald winner is announced on Friday 17/07/15 with the exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW continuing until 27/09/15.
» 22/06/2015: Works by Mitch Cairns, Gunter Christmann, Emily Hunt, Clare Milledge, Michael Riley and Mary Teague are included in the group exhibition, Writing Art, curated by Scott Donovan, at Artspace, Sydney. "Writing Art illustrates how the use of text has evolved into an integral and multifaceted aspect of contemporary art. The use of text may be fundamentally material, focusing on the resonant connotations of words. It may be punning and self-referential. It may be spatial and constructive. It may draw close to poetry while maintaining a strong visual identity. It may be documentarian, or mockingly so, where text is suggested as part of a narrative, or fictional, archive. Ultimately, it is the sheer mutability of the textual within the context of the visual arts that allows it to keep speaking, amongst works and to an ever-growing audience receptive to the form." Opening Thursday 25/06/15, 6-8pm. Exhibition continues until 16/07/15.
» 28/03/2015: Agatha Gothe-Snape, Mitch Cairns and Gunter Christmann have work in the exhibition 21st Century Heide: The Collection Since 2000, at Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne. The exhibition presents 1500 artworks acquired by the Museum since the turn of the century. Exhibition dates: 28/03/15 - 14/07/15.
» 09/03/2015: Mitch Cairns is contributing to a discussion panel on the centrality of painting as part of the Art Month Sydney program. Wednesday 11/03/15, 6.30pm at King Street Gallery on William.
» 03/03/2015: Mitch Cairns is exhibiting in a group exhibition, Outside Thoughts, curated by Wes Hill at Contemporary Art Tasmania in Hobart (formally known as CAST). The exhibition includes work by Mitch Cairns, Emily Floyd, Danie Mellor and Darren Sylvester and is part of the Tasmanian International Arts Festival. Exhibition dates are 18/03/15 - 19/04/15.
» 23/02/2015: Mitch Cairns will be giving an artist talk about his solo exhibition, FINCHES, Saturday 07/03/15, 4pm. This is an Art Month event.
» 16/02/2015: Matthew Holt's excellent text, 'Midnight All Day: Notes on Mitch Cairns' New Work', commissioned to accompany the current exhibition, is available as a pdf on The Commercial website.
» 13/02/2015: Mitch Cairns' solo exhibition, FINCHES, previewed by Sharne Wolff on The Art Life.
» 30/09/2014: The Commercial is presenting a two-week exhibition of Mitch Cairns' cartoons to frame the launch of his new book. Dip or Skinny Dip is a compilation of cartoons by Cairns with an accompanying text intervention by Brian Fuata. It is presented as a limited edition, bespoke publication and is the first publishing project by Gang Atelier. Dip or Skinny Dip will be launched at The Commercial by Erik Jensen on Sunday 12/10/14, 4-6pm.
» 08/09/2014: Mitch Cairns is exhibiting in a group exhibition, No fond return of love, at the artist-run-initiative, the Institute of Contemporary Art Newtown. The exhibition includes work by Angela Brennan, Mitch Cairns, Charles Dennington and Liang Luscombe. Opening Thursday 11/09/14, 6-8pm. Exhibition: 11/09/14 - 28/09/14.
» 05/08/2014: Mitch Cairns has been shortlisted for the 2014 Geelong Contemporary Art Prize. The recipient of the acquisitive award will be announced on the evening of Friday 29 August and the exhibition of shortlisted works will be on display at Geelong Gallery from 30/08/14 -23/11/14. The guest judge for this year's prize is Charlotte Day, Director, Monash University Museum of Art.
» 18/07/2014: Mitch Cairns has been named runner-up in this year's Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales for his portrait of philanthropist Reg Richardson AM. The exhibition opens to the public tomorrow 19/07/14 and runs until 28/09/14. The Archibald then tours regionally at the following venues: 4 October 2014 – 16 November 2014: Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery; 22 November 2014 – 4 January 2014: Gosford Regional Gallery; 16 January 2015 – 22 February 2015: Maitland Regional Art Gallery; 28 February 2015 – 12 April 2015: Lismore Regional Gallery; 18 April 2015 – 31 May 2015: Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery; 5 June 2015 – 19 July 2015: Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery; 24 July 2015 – 6 September 2015: Griffith Regional Art Gallery.
» 10/07/2014: Mitch Cairns is a finalist in the 2014 Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales with his portrait of philanthropist Reg Richardson AM. The winner of the Archibald is announced at noon on Friday 18/07/14, Sydney time. Cairns was a finalist in the 2013 Archibald (with a self-portrait) and a finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize in 2013 (with a portrait of Agatha Gothe-Snape) and 2010 (with a portrait of Brian Fuata).
» 20/06/2014: The Commercial is excited in anticipation of its first presentation at Melbourne Art Fair in the Royal Exhibition Building from 13/08/14 - 17/08/14. Presented by the Melbourne Art Foundation, a not for profit organisation, Melbourne Art Fair is one of Australasia’s longest running contemporary art events. For 25 years the Fair has stimulated critical and commercial attention for galleries and their artists directly contributing to the livelihood of living artists. The Commercial will present a group exhibition in the MAF Galleries sector. Collector's passes and tickets to the opening night Vernissage on Wednesday 13 August, 6-10pm are available on the Melbourne Art Fair website.
» 25/02/2014: As part of the series of talks around the group exhibition OUI we, Mitch Cairns and Robert Pulie will be in conversation on the last day of the exhibition, speaking about their own works and each other's. 4pm Saturday 08/03/14.
» 22/01/2014: A short review of Mitch Cairns' solo exhibition at the artist-run-initiative TCB art inc., Melbourne, appears in today's The Age.
» 20/01/2014: It is with great pleasure that The Commercial announces that it is representing Mitch Cairns. Cairns (b. 1984) is a Sydney-based painter who was represented by BREENSPACE, Sydney, from 2008 until its recent closure. The Commercial would like to acknowledge the good care, effort and insight that BREENSPACE invested in Mitch’s early career. Forthcoming exhibitions include a solo exhibition at TCB inc., Melbourne and a Drawing Wall commission at Shepparton Art Museum, curated by Elise Routledge. His first solo exhibition at The Commercial will be in early 2015.
» 16/01/2014: Mitch Cairns has been invited to do a Drawing Wall project at Shepparton Art Museum. Curated by Elise Routledge, the Drawing Wall is an ongoing series of temporary, commissioned, site-specific works for the foyer space of the Eastbank Centre, directly outside SAM. Four artists are commissioned each year. Artists commissioned for Drawing Wall projects to date have included: Raquel Ormella, Anna Kristensen, Richard Lewer, Viv Miller, Caroline Rothwell, Justin Andrews and Agatha Gothe-Snape. Mitch Cairns, Drawing Wall #14 07/02/14 - 27/04/14.
» 12/01/2014: Mitch Cairns has a solo exhibition, Cigarette cm, at TCB art inc., Melbourne. "The Cigarette cm is a somewhat obsolete and inaccurate unit of measurement useful for quantifying both time and space in a variety of ways." (MC and AGS) Exhibition dates 22/01/14 - 08/02/14.