Art Labs is a series of artist-led workshops connecting young audiences with artists, artmaking and the National Gallery of Australia collection.
In this Art Lab hosted by John Curtin Gallery, join artist Claire Fletcher, from PhotoAccess, for a full-day workshop inspired by Nan Goldin’s The Ballad of Sexual Dependency. This is a National Gallery Touring Exhibition presented as part of the Bowness Family Foundation Photography Touring Program.
Begin the day with a floor talk with JCG Curator Lia McKnight, delving into Goldin’s deeply personal approach to photography.
After the talk, join Claire to examine how Goldin uses photography to express identity, emotion and shared experience. Through a series of hands-on activities, the group will look at composition, colour, tone, mood, intentionality and the beauty of accidental wins. Claire will share practical tips for capturing compelling images and discuss good practice for public photography etiquette.
In the second part of the workshop, explore the power of photography as a tool for documentation, observation and personal expression. Using your own photographs to create a zine, tell a story about your community and what it means to be a young person today.
Claire Fletcher is a visual artist practicing on Ngunnawal Country, ACT, Australia. Working across photography, painting, and print-media, Fletcher explores the possibilities of traditional mediums in a contemporary space.
PhotoAccess is Canberra’s leading centre for contemporary photography, film, video, and media arts.
This Art Lab is made possible by the generous support of the Bowness Family Foundation.
For more information, please visit the NGA event page.
Event Details
Sunday 24 August 2025
10:00am – 4:00pm
Free event, ages 16 to 25
What to bring on the day:
A few personal photographs, printed in standard sizes (10 × 15 cm or 13 × 18 cm);
A few digital photographs to share during group discussions. These can be stored on a shareable device such as a phone or USB drive;
Bring your own lunch, snacks and a water bottle – this is a full-day workshop.
Image: Nan Goldin, Twisting at my birthday party, New York City, 1980, 1980, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2021 in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia’s 40th anniversary, 2022 © Nan Goldin.
