Move over Mona Lisa – these are five of Australia’s must-see artworks

Where: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

Renowned 20th-century Melbourne artist, Sidney Nolan, created a remarkable series of 27 works between 1946 and 1947, retelling the tale of bushranger Ned Kelly. The most recognisable piece from the series features Kelly’s now-famous black square helmet — a striking symbol that’s now widely associated with the outlaw. You can marvel at this artwork, along with many other masterpieces from the series, at the NGA in Canberra.

Where: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

Seven-time winner of the Wynne Prize for landscape painting – the second most of any Aussie artist – Elioth Lauritz Leganyer Gruner has left quite the legacy. His 1919-winning landscape, ‘Spring frost’, has become his best-known masterpiece, and according to the AGNSW, is probably their most beloved artwork. Gruner painted much of the artwork en plein air (in the open air) on a rural farm in Emu Plains, where he even built a large structure to protect the canvas from the elements. ‘Spring Frost’ is now on permanent display, proudly showcased in the AGNSW’s Grand Courts in the Naala Nura building.

Where: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

When ‘Blue Poles’ was acquired by the NGA in 1973, it became the most expensive American painting ever sold. Today, the eclectic piece is the most viewed artwork at the gallery, valued at a staggering $500 million and counting. You can marvel at the grandeur of this masterpiece by leading abstract expressionist artist, Jackson Pollock, which showcases his infamous ‘drip’ technique. 'Blue Poles' is almost always on display, having only been removed for in-depth research or conservation purposes when the gallery temporarily closed in 2020.

Where: Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide

Widely regarded as the pioneer of contemporary Indigenous Australian art, Western Arrente painter Albert Namatjira is best known for his spectacular watercolours of the Central Australian landscape. ‘Ghost gum, Central Australia’ is one of Namatjira’s most famous works, showcasing a striking tree native to the Central Australian region where he was born. The ghost gum symbolises the resilience of the harsh outback desert and the spiritual connection of the MacDonnell Ranges to the Traditional Land Owners.

Where: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

Painted in the late 19th century, this famous artwork is a beloved symbol of Aussie rural life and the importance of the wool industry. Tom Roberts based the painting on a series of preliminary sketches he completed at Brocklesby Station in Corowa, New South Wales. These days, ‘Shearing the rams’ pops up everywhere from postcards to textbooks – but the original masterpiece hangs proudly in the NGV.