The award-winning biennale features a trail of 100 free exhibitions and outdoor art installations to explore across seven Festival Precincts in Melbourne, as well as five cities in regional Victoria – presented in partnership with over 50 museums and galleries including ACMI, State Library Victoria, Museum of Australian Photography, and the Centre for Contemporary Photography.

 

Addressing the theme ‘The Future Is Shaped by Those Who Can See It’, PHOTO 2024’s expansive program invites audiences to discover the possible and parallel futures that lie ahead, and how current actions are shaping future realities – from AI-generated images and surveillance evasion to climate futures and animal espionage.

 

PHOTO 2024 presents the work of over 150 contemporary photographers and artists, featuring some of the biggest names in photography. Highlights include:

 

— 29 large-scale outdoor displays at iconic locations across Melbourne including arguably the world’s largest Nan Goldin artwork installed on the façade of Fed Square facing Flinders St and Hosier Lane.

 

— PHOTO 2024’s Icons of Photography exhibitions include Nan Goldin’s landmark series ‘The Ballad of Sexual Dependency’ at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, an immersive exhibition re-imagining Rennie Ellis’s image archive at State Library Victoria, and the first Australian exhibition of Malian photographer Malick Sidibé on the State Library’s forecourt.

 

— An exclusive presentation of cult American photographer Ryan McGinley’s portraits of Melbourne pop star Troye Sivan on display at PHOTO 2024’s first ever Festival Hub in Collingwood, and the Australian Premiere of McGinley’s ‘YEARBOOK’ installation featuring over 700 images at Shepparton Art Museum.

 

— Portraits of robots, AI-generated images and avatars in ‘Uncanny Valley: Photography, Tech and the Hyperreal’ outside Melbourne’s Old Treasury Building

 

— Presentations by prominent First Nations artists and photographers Tony Albert (Girramay/Kuku Yalanji), Maree Clarke (Yorta Yorta/Wamba Wamba/Mutti Mutti/ Boonwurrung), Corben Mudjandi (Mirarr), Tace Stevens (Noongar/Spinifex), and more.

 

— World-first PHOTO 2024 Ideas Summit exploring the future of photography with Ryan McGinley, Lil Nas X-collaborator Filip Custic and, joining live on zoom, Sophia, the first robot to be granted citizenship of a country. Presented by PHOTO Australia at The Edge, Fed Square, in partnership with Fed Square and Museum of Australian Photography.

 

— 110 events over PHOTO 2024’s four themed weekends for all lovers of photography, from Opening Weekend celebrations across Melbourne and Regional Weekend activities in regional Victoria, to mind-opening talks and workshops at the Ideas Weekend, and a world of photography books to browse and buy at the Photobook Weekend at Abbotsford Convent.

 

— ‘Queer PHOTO’, a festival of queer photography presented by PHOTO 2024 and Midsumma Festival across Footscray Community Arts, The Substation, Trocadero Projects, and Wyndham Art Gallery and Werribee Park.

 

City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp AO says: “It’s extremely fitting that PHOTO 2024 – Australia’s largest photography festival – was born here in Melbourne. Melbourne is not only the arts capital of Australia, but also the photographic capital, home to some of the largest and oldest photographic collections in the country. We continue to support and uphold this mantel because we recognise the importance photography has to play not just as an artistic medium, but as a cultural medium that records civic and social history. The City of Melbourne is again proud to be a supporter of this festival and especially proud of the number of free elements it includes, ensuring that Melburnians and visitors can appreciate the moments this event captures.”

 

Festival Founder/Artistic Director, Elias Redstone says: “Some of the most famous photographers in the world are presenting in Melbourne and across Victoria alongside the hottest new talent. I will be visiting all 100 exhibitions during PHOTO 2024, and urge people to see as many as they can! I am thrilled that many of the artists will be flying to Melbourne from across the world to attend the festival and speak at PHOTO 2024 Ideas Summit – a testament to the festival’s growing reputation as a must-visit event in the global photography calendar.”

 

All 100 Exhibitions are free.
Most events are free, bookings may be required. Visit photo.org.au for more info.