"Multiverse" — a major survey exhibition of Torres Strait artist Brian Robinson — is on display at the Newcastle Art Gallery until August 30. It is the gallery's first major solo show since reopening after a four-year refurbishment.
Brian Robinson is a Maluyligal and Wuthathi man with Scottish and Filipino heritage, born on Waiben (Thursday Island) in the Torres Strait. He works across illustration, printmaking, sculpture, animation, and public art installation.
His art draws on Indigenous storytelling, biblical narratives, history, pop culture, and personal humor. A recurring theme is cosmology, reflecting Torres Strait Islander traditions of celestial navigation.
Exhibition Details
The title Multiverse refers to the multiple sources of inspiration in Robinson's work. The exhibition includes prints, sculptures, and public art projects created over the last decade.
A notable work on display is Abracadabra — a four-panel vinylcut print produced during a 2025 residency at the University of Newcastle. It depicts objects from scientific collections, Torres Strait culture, biblical stories, and pop culture.
Other Featured Works
- Zugubal: the wind and tide set the pace – a vinylcut and animation created for the 2023 Rising festival, telling the story of the Tagai constellation.
- Woven Fish – a series of 2.5-metre-tall sculptures commissioned for the 2003 Cairns Esplanade redevelopment.
- Citizens Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef – a 6-metre polished stainless steel sculpture.
- Mythical Mashup: The Graphic Worlds of Brian Robinson – a two-part installation at the National Maritime Museum for Vivid Sydney.
Curatorial Work
In 2021, Robinson curated WARWAR, an exhibition of Torres Strait Islander art at Newcastle Art Gallery.
Statements
Newcastle Art Gallery director Lauretta Morton described the exhibition as a long-awaited survey and praised Robinson's technical skill and use of black space in his prints.
Robinson said his work often starts with an Indigenous storytelling base, layered with biblical, historical, and humorous elements.