Artist Talk Olafur Eliasson

Name: Artist Talk
Start: 2025-12-06T01:00:00.000Z
End: 2025-12-06T02:00:00.000Z

Portrait of Olafur Eliasson / Photograph: Lars Borges, 2020 / View full image

When

11.00 am – 12.00 pm, Sat 6 Dec 2025

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Where

Gallery of Modern Art, Cinema A

Accessibility

Wheelchair Accessible
Auslan Interpreted

What to expect

Admission

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About

Join artist Olafur Eliasson in an intimate conversation, reflecting on his creative process and the years-long collaboration with QAGOMA and his studio team, culminating in the multi-sensory exhibition ‘Olafur Eliasson: Presence‘.

Discover the artist’s expansive works from across his three-decade career, which come fully to life only through the presence of the viewer.

In conversation with Geraldine Kirrihi Barlow (‘Presence‘ curator and Head of International Art, QAGOMA).

This talk has sold out. A live stream of the talk will be available via QAGOMA's YouTube channel at 11.00am AEST on Sat 6 Dec 2025.

Olafur Eliasson

Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson (b.1967) creates art relevant to the world at large. Since 1997, his wide-ranging solo shows - featuring installations, paintings, sculptures, photography and film - have appeared in major museums around the globe. In 2003, he represented Denmark at the 50th Venice Biennale, and later that year installed The weather project at Tate Modern's Turbine Hall, London. Eliasson's projects in public space include The New York City Waterfalls (2008); Fjordenhus, Vejle (2018); and Ice Watch (2014). In 2012, Eliasson founded the social business Little Sun, and in 2014, he and Sebastian Behmann founded Studio Other Spaces, an office for art and architecture. In 2019, Eliasson was named United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador for climate action.

Geraldine Kirrihi Barlow

Geraldine Kirrihi Barlow (Ngāpuhi) is a curator, writer and creator who lives on the Maiwar and was born on the Yarra. Her hapu are Te Hikutu and Ngāti Rangi, her maunga, or mountains, are Whiria and Te Ramaroa. Barlow’s other enviro-socially related exhibitions include ‘Air’ (2022), ‘Water’ (2019) at GOMA and ‘The Ecologies Project’ (2008). Her exhibitions focused on history, culture and memory include ‘Plenty’ (2023) and ‘Sugar Spin: you me art and everything’ (2016) at GOMA, ‘Concrete’ (2014), ‘Liquid Archive’ (2012) and ‘Networks (cells and silos)’ (2011).

Olafur Eliasson, Denmark b.1967 / Beauty 1993 (installation view, Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, Italy, 2022) / Spotlight, water, nozzles, wood, hose, pump / Purchased 2025. The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust. Collection: The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © 1993 Olafur Eliasson / Photograph: Ela Bialkowska, OKNOstudio — Olafur Eliasson, Denmark b.1967 / *Beauty* 1993 (installation view, Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, Italy, 2022) / Spotlight, water, nozzles, wood, hose, pump / Purchased 2025. The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust. Collection: The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © 1993 Olafur Eliasson / Photograph: Ela Bialkowska, OKNOstudio / View full image

Olafur Eliasson: Presence

About the exhibition

APT11 Valentine’s Day event/ February, 2024 / Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane / Photograph: C. Saunders © QAGOMA / View full image

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What to expect

Here’s what to expect at this event.

Everyone is welcome! Please contact events.plus@qagoma.qld.gov.au in advance of the program if you have any accessibility needs or queries about the event. Find out more about Accessibility at QAGOMA and planning your visit.

Participation and content

Seating to commence at approximately 10.45am for this event.
You are welcome to come with a friend or by yourself. Many people attend the Gallery solo.
We ask all attendees to be kind, respectful and courteous to all participants, speakers and staff at this event. This program will be monitored by QAGOMA staff to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our attendees, speakers and staff.

Sensory aspects and Accessibility

This event will be Auslan interpreted.
Speakers will use an amplified microphone. Please let us know in advance if you are hard of hearing so we can make this talk accessible for you.
A screen/projection will be used during the event.
This event will be held in Cinema A, which is a 220 seat theatre space, the lights will be turned down on the audience during the event. You can leave the space at any time and re-enter the event.
The Gallery air conditioning is set to 21°C to conserve the artworks.
If the event becomes overwhelming or stressful, earmuffs and sensory kits are available. Each kit contains a number of resources for self-regulation and calming. Please speak to a staff member for assistance. These kits can also be requested in advance by emailing events.plus@qagoma.qld.gov.au
This event will be photographed and filmed by QAGOMA staff. If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed, please advise a QAGOMA staff member on arrival.

Companion Cards

We accept Companion Cards. A Companion Card is issued by the Queensland Government for those with a disability and need for attendant care support. The ‘Companion’ ticket type is only valid for your companion to gain complimentary entry. A General Admission, Youth or QAGOMA Member ticket is required for the Companion Card holder to access this event. A valid companion card number is required to be supplied upon booking.