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Tarnanthi Festival to mark tenth anniversary with new major exhibition

Phoebe Blogg - July 29, 2025

Kulata Tjuta Installation Adobe RGB. Image: Saul Steed.

Tarnanthi, the Art Gallery of South Australia's festival of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, will mark a key milestone this year with the major exhibition Too Deadly: Ten Years of Tarnanthi.

Held alongside a state-wide festival of exhibitions and events across twenty-five partner venues, and an in-person Tarnanthi Art Fair in a new CBD location, the 2025 event is set gain the attention of art lovers everywhere.

The word tarnanthi (pronounced TAR-nan-dee) comes from the language of the Kaurna people, the traditional owners of the Adelaide Plains. It means to spring forth or appear – like the sun and the first emergence of light.

Since it began in 2015, Tarnanthi has established itself as Australia's leading First Nations arts festival, with more than 2.2 million people visiting Tarnanthi exhibitions and events that have showcased the radical ingenuity and expansive practice of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and creatives.

Over the past ten years, Tarnanthi has provided a platform for more than 9,000 First Nations artists to present their works of art, building understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture for audiences in Australia and around the world.

Tarnanthi artistic director, Barkandji curator Nici Cumpston OAM shared the meaning behind the festival's creation.

"Over the last decade, Tarnanthi has fostered opportunities for more than 9,000 First Nations artists at all stages of their careers, opening new pathways for creative talents. Tarnanthi has provided a platform for conversations, for deep listening and for important cultural sharing," she said.

"Today, ten years on, Tarnanthi has its own ecology; ambitious, intergenerational, and embracing of both emerging and established artists working in any medium. It has been a privilege to champion artists' voices through Tarnanthi and to bring world-class experiences with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art to Australian audiences."

Opening on October 17 at AGSA, Too Deadly will showcase more than 200 landmark works of art that have been acquired into AGSA's collection over the past ten years of Tarnanthi.

Too Deadly not only reflects on Tarnanthi's first decade but also recontextualises and re-energises important works, allowing new dialogues to emerge between works of art, showcasing the artistic excellence of First Nations artists from across the country.

Too Deadly features major installations and works of art by over 200 artists including Tony Albert, Betty Campbell, Nyaparu (William) Gardiner, Vincent Namatjira, Judith Pungarta Inkamala, Motorbike Paddy Ngal, Thea Anamara Perkins, Ryan Presley, Reko Rennie, and many others.

In addition, AGSA's free activity space The Studio will feature Banjiyma artist Layne Dhu-Dickie, whose hand-drawn comic book Captain Hedland versus The Fisherman will inspire visitors to create their own unique character for a collaborative comic book wall.

Dhu-Dickie was the youngest artist to ever participate in Tarnanthi in 2019 at the age of 15. Six years later, this presentation of The Studio demonstrates Tarnanthi's commitment to supporting emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

*Director at AGSA, Jason Smith. (Image: Saul Steed.)*

Director at AGSA, Jason Smith, shared how the festival continues to grow and further set a benchmark in best practice.

"Since beginning as a one-off event in 2015, Tarnanthi has evolved from delivering acclaimed exhibitions in South Australia to reaching national and international audiences," he said.

"Expertly and sensitively led by Artistic Director Nici Cumpston OAM over the past decade, Tarnanthi has set a benchmark in best practice with its commitment to working with First Nations artists and communities and it's an honour that AGSA is the vehicle for these important conversations."

Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, welcomed the acclaimed festival, expressing how the festival is not only a platform for our nation's important voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artistic talent, but a positive benefit on the state's economy.

"I am delighted that the Art Gallery of South Australia will celebrate this landmark celebration of a nationally and internationally important cultural offering in 2025. Not only is this Festival a platform for our nation's important voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artistic talent, Tarnanthi has also generated $126.5 million for our State's economy," he said.

Andrea Michaels MP, SA minister for the arts said Tarnanthi is "a wonderful statewide celebration of art that has created meaningful experiences with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art for more than two million visitors to Tarnanthi exhibitions across South Australia and beyond, over the last ten years."

"We're proud that AGSA is home to this significant cultural event," she said.

AGSA Chair Sandy Verschoor said the success of the festival has only been made possible through the festival's generous supporters.

"A nation-leading event, Tarnanthi has only been made possible through the support of BHP and the Government of South Australia over the last decade. This commitment has been instrumental to elevating the artistic careers of thousands of First Nations artists and has allowed AGSA to set new benchmarks in working in respectful, ethical and culturally appropriate ways," she said.

BHP Olympic Dam Asset President, Anna Wiley said Tarnanthi has delivered "meaningful, positive impact and inspiration to communities across South Australia".

"BHP has been a proud partner throughout this journey - supporting Tarnanthi's growth from its inception to the nationally recognised exhibition it has become. It's helped drive economic development, brought art to regional communities, and celebrated cultural excellence while fostering deeper understanding and respect," she said.

"Their commitment to thoughtful engagement with First Nations communities is truly special, and we're excited to continue supporting Tarnanthi's bright future."

An accompanying publication, with new essays by First Nations writers, provides further insight and reflection on Tarnanthi's decade of showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

Tarnanthi Festival 2025 will run from the 17th of October 2025 to 18th of January 2026 at AGSA and across twenty-five partner venues state-wide.

A selection of works from Too Deadly will then begin a national tour, travelling to six regional venues from 2026-2028 including Rockhampton Museum of Art and Caboolture Regional Art Gallery (QLD); Maitland Regional Art Gallery and Ngununggula Southern Highlands Regional Gallery (NSW); Geelong Gallery (VIC); and Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery (WA).

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