Nolan's Africa

A new book by Andrew Turley reveals the fascinating backstory of Nolan's African Journey exhibition. Once famous but now practically forgotten, it was privately viewed by Queen Elizabeth II before premiering at London's Marlborough Galleries in 1963.

Turley follows the artist's journey through Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia, coloured by the impact of his recent travel to Auschwitz and the formation of the World Wildlife Fund. The book explores in detail the mid-century influences Nolan was absorbing and channelling: the legacies of colonialism, war and conflict, globalisation, and animal extinctions.

Sidney Nolan Trust is proud to have contributed – advancing understanding of Sidney Nolan’s work and its contemporary relevance through enabling archive research and images. In the coming weeks and months we will be working with the author to share some of the insights of Nolan’s Africa along with Nolan's paintings and photographs that shed new light on this significant yet little explored cycle of work.

Mark 1 April in your diary, when Nolan’s Africa comes to life at The Rodd as our inaugural 2025 exhibition.

To follow Nolan’s African journey with us click the button below.