25 Moments to celebrate gallery anniversary

The idea of a Gosford Regional Gallery was first floated in the NSW State Parliament in 1972 – the same year Tim Braham was born.

It took another 28 years before it opened at East Gosford in April 2000, with Braham as director – a position he has held ever since.

The gallery will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a very special exhibition – 25 Moments.

“While not everything has gone to plan, there have been some amazing success stories along the way,” Braham said.

“Personally, the opportunity this role has given me to work with such a variety of artists has been enormously rewarding.

“25 Moments looks back over almost 500 exhibitions held since 2000.

“Over this period, we have worked with amazing artists and curators to produce incredible exhibitions.

“However, there have also been times I wished we could have gone a bit further, pushed the boundaries just a little more.

“In selecting these moments with co-curators Jo O’Toole and Michael McIntyre, we have curated stories we felt were important to explore.

“Rather than a ‘best of’ selection, this exhibition is much more subtle and nuanced.

“There are moments of nostalgia, moments of brilliance and, in many cases, a desire to extend the conversation.

“It is a widely considered and balanced glimpse into key moments in the formative years of Gosford Regional Gallery.”

Braham thanked the artists and institutions who have loaned artwork to the exhibition.

“Of course, there have been many, many more than 25 notable moments in our journey from 2000 to 2025,” he said.

“The curatorial challenges of time and place and balance have meant that many worthy artists could not be included.

“It is a rare chance that one gets to pause, look back over 25 years, and celebrate our achievements along the way.”

Artworks created by 30 artists and art collectives have travelled from all over the country to be displayed in 25 Moments.

The exhibition includes a carefully curated selection of previously exhibited artworks – loaned from some of Australia’s most prestigious galleries and personal collections – and newly commissioned work from artists who have exhibited at the gallery over the past 25 years.

“With each artistic ‘moment’ representing a year in the life of Gosford Regional Gallery, the exhibition offers something for everyone,” Braham said.

Central Coast Mayor Lawrie McKinna said the gallery had showcased the remarkable talents of thousands of artists from around the globe and welcomed 3.5 million visitors since opening its doors in 2000.

“Among the many highlights of this journey, hosting the internationally acclaimed artist William Kentridge in 2023 and the Archibald Prize exhibition four times has elevated the gallery’s profile on the world stage, with the Gosford Art Prize now attracting almost 1,000 entries from every state in Australia,” he said.

An opening event will be held on Friday, April 11, with the exhibition on show from April 12-June 15.