Top 5 things to see & do in April & beyond

Wed 25 Mar 2026

Planning a visit to the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) or Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) this April? Whether you're a local or a tourist, here are our top experiences for the month; choose from our highlights if you're just dropping in for a quick visit, or staying longer to wander — these will make your trip extra special.

Regardless if you're interested in artworks by Australian or international artists, traditional or contemporary art, or anything in between, QAGOMA offers something for every visitor.

RELATED | More Gallery experiences

1. Gain insights into Pablo Picasso’s early Parisian social world

Just opened, the exhibition 'Sorcerers from Bohemia' evokes the free-spirited world of the travelling circus performers, or saltimbanques — the subject of Pablo Picasso’s first major body of work in printmaking. On moving to Paris in 1904, 22-year-old Picasso encountered a bohemian crowd of acrobats, jugglers and street performers, whom he sketched as they rehearsed and socialised together.

Watch as Nina Miall, Curator, International Art, takes you through Picasso's depictions of the free-spirited world of the travelling circus performers.

Queensland Art Gallery
Until 12 February 2027
Gallery 7 (Philip Bacon Galleries)
Free entry

Watch | Take a tour through Picasso's travelling circus performers

2. View the divine as a living part of everyday life

The exhibition 'The God of Small Things: Faith and Popular Culture' is centred around a rare collection of embellished oleographs — prints designed to resemble oil paintings.

Watch Tarun Nagesh, Curatorial Manager, Asian & Pacific Art as he introduces you to the work of Raja Ravi Varma (India, 1848-1906). Spectacular and rare — these artworks are from one of the most prolific Indian artists in modern history who broke rules and blazed a trail changing Indian contemporary art forever.

Queensland Art Gallery
Until 5 October 2026
Galleries 5 & 6 (Henry and Amanda Bartlett Galleries)
Free entry

Watch | Discover the artworks of Raja Ravi Varma

3. Visit our gallery mice Roy & Matilda, see their new clothes

‘Dear Queensland Art Gallery, I made a promise to make some new clothes for Roy & Matilda... P.S. My Grandma helped me make these' — Azaria.

Roy & Matilda are now dressed in Azaria's beautiful handmade outfits. A truly special gift for our much-loved gallery mice. They loved art so much that one day the family visited the Queensland Art Gallery and made it their home, so we decided to make them a special little front door. Come say hello to Roy & Matilda at their forever home in the Australian Art Collection.

Watch as Roy and Matilda are dressed in their new outfits.

Queensland Art Gallery
On permanent display, Australian Art Collection
Gallery 11 (Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Galleries)
Free entry

4. Looking for free kids activities during the school holidays?

Get creative with our hands-on drawing activity all the family can participate in. As part of ‘Art Box for Kids’, Australian artist Lincoln Austin invites you to create a sculptural drawing using aluminium foil, card, string and glue — open 10:00am - 4:30pm during school holidays. While you're at the Children’s Art Centre explore more activities that span drawing, dancing, and digital media in ‘Express Yourself’ by artist Vipoo Srivilasa.

Gallery of Modern Art
‘Art Box for Kids’: Until 4 May 2026, Children's Art Centre, Entry level
‘Express Yourself’: Until 13 September 2026, Children's Art Centre, Park level
Free entry

Watch | Create a sculptural drawing using aluminium foil, card, string & glue

5. For one day only

Join us during World Autism Awareness Day

To acknowledge World Autism Awareness Day, QAGOMA will open from 9.00am to 10.00am on Thursday 2 April 2026 for a special low sensory hour. Volumes will be lowered and high sensory exhibits will be signposted. There will be no public announcements. Autistic visitors and anyone with sensory sensitivity or disability are warmly invited to enjoy a quieter, more relaxed visit before the galleries open to the public.

Low sensory viewing 'Olafur Eliasson: Presence'
Visit 'Olafur Eliasson: Presence' on Thursday 2 April at the Gallery of Modern Art in a quiet and relaxed atmosphere before opening hours. Exhibition ticket required.

'Olafur Eliasson: Presence'
Buy Tickets for 'Morning Art Riser': Each Thursday (April until 2 July 2026), experience ‘Olafur Eliasson: Presence’ from 9.00am before doors open to the public at 10.00am.
Buy 50% off tickets: Treat yourself to 50% off ‘Olafur Eliasson: Presence’ tickets the first Tuesday of every month.

Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art
Collection displays
9.00am to 10.00am, Thursday 2 April 2026

Olafur Eliasson's Firefly city offers a space without external stimulation

Watch | Build your Lego city of the future

Join us during the Bodhi Tree Blessing Ceremony

This year, join us as we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Lee Mingwei’s Bodhi Tree Project, with the annual blessing, a tea ceremony and a meditative drawing activity.

Have you ever paused under the shade of the leafy tree that stretches its far-reaching branches over the terrace outside the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)? This tree has a rich history and spiritual significance: the Bodhi Tree Project is a living artwork that was developed by artist Lee Mingwei to mark the opening of GOMA in December 2006. Grown from a sapling taken from a descendant of the tree under which Siddhartha Gautama — more commonly known as the Buddha — is said to have been sitting when he attained enlightenment. The custodians of the ancient holy tree in Sri Lanka gifted the seedling to the artist 20 years ago, who installed it in its new home at GOMA. Every year, around the time of the Buddha’s birthday, representatives of Fo Guang Shan Chung Tian Temple (Priestdale) visit the Gallery to bless the Bodhi Tree during a special ceremony.

Gallery of Modern Art
10.15am – 12.30pm, Friday 24 April 2026
Bodhi Tree Terrace

Bodhi Tree Blessing Ceremony: 10.15am – 11.30am
Tea Ceremony: 11.45am – 12.30pm
Drop-in Workshop: Bodhi Tree Leaf Rubbing, 11.30am – 12.30pm
These events are free and everyone is welcome.

6. Our wild card. Artwork of the month for the dreamers

While you're visiting Roy & Matilda in the Australian Art Collection, pop around the corner to see expatriate Australian artist Rupert Bunny's dreamy romantic vision of women at leisure in Bathers 1906. The immense work (over 2 metres wide and 2.5 metres deep) is typical of salon paintings during La Belle Epoque (The Beautiful Era). Delve into the artwork before you visit, or browse more stories from our Australian Art Collection.

Queensland Art Gallery
Australian Art Collection
Gallery 11 (Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Galleries)
Free entry

Rupert Bunny Bathers 1906

Located riverside across two architecturally-acclaimed buildings in the Queensland Cultural Centre, QAGOMA is a short walk from Brisbane's CBD, adjacent to South Bank, and welcomes visitors of all ages, interests and abilities.

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
Brisbane, Australia