Homegrown artist Mitch Cairns returns to Wollongong with new exhibition
Wollongong Art Gallery is delighted to present Restless Legs, the latest body of work by acclaimed contemporary artist Mitch Cairns, opening this Friday evening.
This exhibition marks a homecoming for Cairns, who grew up in the Illawarra. Well known as a portrait painter – he won the Archibald Prize in 2017 – Cairns returns to Wollongong with a compelling exhibition that highlights the breadth and evolution of his artistic practice.
Restless Legs arrives fresh from its presentation at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), where it featured as part of the AGNSW Contemporary Project Series.
The exhibition title reflects Cairns’ signature dry wit and love of wordplay—Restless Legs refers to the sensation he experiences while reading in bed. This interplay between language and literature is a central influence, alongside his inner-city surroundings and the humour and poignancy of everyday life.
The exhibition includes oil paintings and text-based bronze plates, with a standout work featuring a decommissioned power pole reimagined as a readymade sculpture and makeshift seat. This piece evokes themes of class, labour, communication, and regional identity.
Other recurring motifs include playful explorations of language through depictions of letters, numbers, and literary quotations—from books to text messages. Nature also plays a role, with a floral still life serving as a poetic self-portrait.
Wollongong Art Gallery Director, Daniel Mudie Cunninghamis honoured to welcome Mitch Cairns back to the Illawarra with Restless Legs.
“Playful yet profound, his work offers a compelling reflection on language, place, and the everyday,” he said.
“It’s a privilege to present such a significant body of work from one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists, to continue our valued relationship with the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and to share this exhibition with our local community.”
Mitch Cairnssaidthat Wollongong Art Gallery holds a very special significance to him.
“It is the site of some of my earliest introductions to art, with exhibitions that have continued to stay with me,” Mitch said.
“It’s deeply meaningful to return with Restless Legs, and to share this work in a place that played such a formative role in my journey as an artist.”
Restless Legs is a recent exhibition in the AGNSW Contemporary Project series, which showcases new works by contemporary artists from NSW. Its presentation at Wollongong Art Gallery marks the sole stop on a single-venue tour, offering local audiences a unique opportunity to experience this significant body of work.
The exhibition will be showing from 6 September to 30 November 2025. For more information, please visit the Wollongong Art Gallery website.
This is an Art Gallery of New South Wales Touring Exhibition presented by Wollongong Art Gallery.
Opening weekend events
Official opening of Restless Legs
When: 6-8pm, Friday 5 September 2025
Where: Wollongong Art Gallery
What: Join us for the official opening of Restless Legs. It’s free for everyone to attend. There will be opening remarks by Maud Page, Director Art Gallery of NSW.
Artist talk with Mitch Cairns
When: 1-2pm, Saturday 6 September
Where: Wollongong Art Gallery
What: Join Mitch Cairns in conversation with curator Nick Yelverton.
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