Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir at Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

One of Australia’s most influential contemporary artists is taking over the MCA with a powerful exhibition that explores identity, history, tourism and cultural survival.

Set against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour, Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir is an eye-opening exhibition that brings together major works across sculpture, photography, painting, installation and assemblage, alongside striking new commissions, inviting families to see familiar stories from a different perspective.

Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir at Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir shines a spotlight on one of the most fearless voices in Australian contemporary art. Through large-scale works, layered installations and thought-provoking imagery, Albert explores the commodification and misrepresentation of Aboriginal people and culture, both past and present, while celebrating survival and cultural pride.

The exhibition draws inspiration from the MCA’s location at Tallawoladah and nearby The Rocks, a site deeply connected to early colonial contact and modern tourism culture. At the same time, the exhibition celebrates survival, resilience and cultural pride through Albert’s unmistakable visual language.

The exhibition is guest curated by renowned Indigenous curator Bruce Johnson McLean and developed in close collaboration with Tony Albert, whose heritage includes the Girramay, Kuku Yalanji and Yidindji peoples.  Explore works spanning multiple disciplines where every room offers something different, from powerful visual statements to playful and provocative details that challenge the way audiences think about Australian history and representation.

Talks, Tours and Special Events

Art lovers can deepen their experience through a range of events and programs, offering extra insight into the ideas, stories and creative process behind the exhibition, including:

• Curator tours
• Guided tours
• Mindi weaving workshop
• An artist conversation with Tony Albert
• The launch of Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir book

Where:  Galleries: Level 3, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 
              140 George Street, The Rocks
When:   21 May – 19 October 2026
Cost:     $28 Adults, $20 Concession + booking fee
              Kids under 18 and MCA Members FREE

For more information, visit Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir.

Main image: Tony Albert, Mid Century Modern, 2016, Collection, HOTA Gallery, gifted by the citizens of the Gold Coast to future generations, 2016, image courtesy of the artist and Sullivan+Strumpf, photograph: Mark Pokorny

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