The newly renovated Brett Whiteley Studio opens in mid 2026 with Brett Whiteley: Chapters 1970–79, an exhibition showcasing ambitious works produced by Whiteley during the 1970s, including his 16-metre-wide autobiographical epic Alchemy 1972–73.

Offering a rich array of 80 paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, prints, photographs and sketchbooks from the collections of the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Brett Whiteley Studio, Chapters 1970–79 reveals the energy, variety and daring of Whiteley’s practice following his return to Australia after a decade of living and working abroad, from 1960 to 1969.

Sublime landscapes, sumptuous nudes, reflective portraits and revealing interiors are shown alongside Alchemy, an allegorical self-portrait that chronicles figures and events that shaped Whiteley’s life.