Exhibitions

A tribute to survival and the enduring power of culture to heal both the land and its people.

The art of movement becomes a powerful expression of culture, identity, and resilience.

Stories worth telling. Stories worth hearing. Stories worth collecting.

Explore a changing selection of items from State Library’s heritage collections.

Take take a self-guided tour of State Library’s free exhibition spaces and public artworks.

The Brisbane Portrait Prize is coming soon.

Experience the history of neon across Queensland from the 1940s to today.

This exhibition celebrates the heart of Brisbane/Meanjin, telling the stories of the courageous, creative, and passionate people who make up our city.

Discover the power of photographic portraiture to communicate beyond the appearance of subjects.

In a time of unruly upheaval and devastation to land and family life from the colonial invasion, working Country was a means of survival.

Experience the transformative potential of architectural design and its pivotal role in shaping communities today.

A series of intimate conversations with 35 of Australia’s most acclaimed artists.

Celebrating 20 years of Indigenous Knowledge Centres in Queensland.

Queensland to a T dishes the dirt on the qualities that made tea towels desirable Queenslandiana and how we see them now.

Celebrate the influence and impact of the man behind the game-changing Native Title Act, Eddie Koiki Mabo.

Meet the authors and editors who have been part of black&write! and discover First Nations stories.

Explore a sculptural, digital, and immersive installation. Its origins lie in the limitless imaginations of children.

Explore the work of three contemporary Aboriginal photographers; Michael Aird, Jo-Anne Driessens and Naomi Hobson.

Explore stories about people and plants in Queensland and discover the masterpieces of botanical illustration in our collections.

A showcase of singlets, shirts, polos and jerseys created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland.

Take a journey into young artist's worlds, to see how they view themselves, their lives, their rights and their futures.

Explore their do-it-yourself design and recall the bands and venues of Brisbane’s independent music scene of the 1970s and 80s.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are on a long journey to awaken languages once deemed ‘lost’.

Twenty is an online photography exhibition reflecting on the last 20 years in Queensland.

Visit Tea and Me to learn about tea-related memories and stories from across the state.

A free thought-provoking exhibition about the survival and revival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

Enjoy the colourful world of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander jarjum (children’s) books and storytelling.

Moussaka. Souvlaki. Paniyiri. Baklava. Today, Queenslanders love Greek food and culture. However, this exhibition explores an untold past.

The year’s best political cartoons 2018.

Protest in the air, a fresh voice on the airwaves; the first Indigenous radio station in a capital city began broadcasting in the 1990s… bringing an exciting new sound to our stereos.

State Library’s portal to Australian South Sea Islander culture and history in Queensland.

Explore the social and emotional foundations of our houses through the incredible legacy of Frank and Eunice Corley.

The inspiring history of Palm Island is celebrated in a fascinating showcase of images, memorabilia and digital stories.

Today’s Australian South Sea Islanders have a special place in Queensland’s cultural diversity and history. They are the descendants of South Sea Islanders brought to Queensland from 1863 to 1904 from 80 Melanesian islands to work the State’s cotton and sugar plantations.

Freedom takes many forms. Some countries cannot guarantee freedom from hunger, while arbitrary detention, religious and racial discrimination are practised throughout the world, sometimes even mandated by governments.

State Library of Queensland marked the 30th anniversary of the 1982 Commonwealth Games when Brisbane came alive with political demonstrations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander civil liberties.

Awakening South East Queensland historical traditions through contemporary art, Art of the Skins revitalised the practice of possum skin cloak making.

19th century pastoral life on the Darling Downs comes alive in this intimate exhibition of treasures at SLQ.

This showcase celebrates the beauty of those creations and research The Siganto Foundation support has enabled.

A decade of building major bridge infrastructure projects in Brisbane cemented Sir Manuel Richard Hornibrook (often known as ‘MR’) as a pioneering Queenslander into the history of the state.

Connecting people to place through animation and storytelling.

Unheard stories are given a voice in this powerful exhibition of scientific photographs and contemporary artworks, exploring the legacy of Norman Tindale's 1938 anthropological expedition to Aboriginal communities.

The Johnstone Gallery was a commercial art gallery that operated in Brisbane from 1950 to 1972 during a seminal time in the development of an audience for contemporary art in Australia.

This showcase tells the story of this historic milestone through the eyes of ACPA alumni as they reflect on the creative process, research and the performance which shaped who they are today and their understanding of the campaign to be counted.