David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)

Prepare to see one of the art world's most recognisable bodies of work on a truly enormous scale when David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) makes its Australian debut at Carriageworks.

Opening on 22 October 2026, the immersive exhibition will transform Bay 17 into a vast digital canvas filled with Hockney's swimming pools, landscapes, photographic collages, drawings and experimental digital creations. The experience was developed by Lightroom London in close collaboration with Hockney and features narration recorded by the artist himself.

Step Inside David Hockney's Colourful World

Rather than viewing framed works along a gallery wall, visitors will find themselves surrounded by Hockney's art as projections stretch across four sides of Carriageworks' monumental industrial space.

The experience moves through six themed chapters covering around 60 years of Hockney's creative practice. His voice guides visitors through the ideas behind his work, including his experiments with perspective, his photographic collages and his later embrace of iPhone and iPad drawing. The projections are accompanied by an original score from contemporary composer Nico Muhly.

From California Pools to the Grand Canyon

Created with Hockney before his death in June 2026, Bigger & Closer offers a personal introduction to the way he observed colour, space and everyday life.

Hockney became famous for his bright paintings of Southern California, particularly the blue swimming pools and sun-drenched homes that helped define his work during the 1960s and 1970s.

The exhibition travels far beyond those familiar images. Visitors will see how he captured the passing of time through composite Polaroids, celebrated the arrival of spring through digital drawing and explored the immense scale of the Grand Canyon through paint. The show also enters the theatre through animated recreations of Hockney's elaborate stage designs and takes audiences into the San Gabriel Mountains during an audiovisual drive inspired by Wagner's music.

Is David Hockney: Bigger & Closer Suitable for Children?

There is no minimum age, making the exhibition an inviting way to introduce children to contemporary art without asking them to stand quietly in front of individual paintings.

Visitors are encouraged to move around and experience the projections from different viewpoints. The main presentation lasts approximately 50 minutes, although Carriageworks recommends allowing around 60 to 80 minutes for the complete visit. Children under 4 are admitted free; prams can enter the experience and children under 12 must remain with an adult.

The exhibition does not use smoke, haze or strobe lighting. It does feature moving projections and animated light, which may affect visitors who are sensitive to moving images. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and eligible Companion Card holders can arrange complimentary companion tickets.

Entry is organised through timed sessions, and advance bookings are recommended. Visitors should arrive around 10 minutes before the time printed on their ticket. Those seeking a calmer experience are advised to choose a session after 1 pm. Photography and video are welcome, although flash photography is not permitted.

Visit Carriageworks for more details and to book tickets.

Where: Bay 17, Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh
When:  From Thursday 22 October 2026
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 am-5 pm; Friday and Saturday, 9 am-7.30 pm; Sunday, 9 am-4 pm
Cost: General admission from $34.90; VIP Anytime Pass $64.90; under 4s go FREE. A $5 booking fee applies per transaction

More Art Adventures in Sydney

Cinémathèque Junior at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Curious World of Pamela Allen at the State Library of NSW
Super Nature

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