Tarntanya/Adelaide and Berlin-based artist Ida Sophia works in sculpture, performance, and video. In her first solo exhibition in a public institution, the 40 day performance and installation work Patience and Penetentia, she examined the relational dynamic of the silent treatment. Enacted seven hours a day over a two-month period, Ida worked with Ashton Malcolm, Sarah Neville, OAKEY and Isobel Stolinski who joined her in the gallery. This public conversation between Samstag’s Associate Curator Sarah Buckley and Ida Sophia was recorded on Tuesday 18 August as the exhibition was nearing its end. Reflecting on the experience, Ida discusses the genesis of her work, her abiding interest in religious iconography and the creative partnerships that sustain her practice. 

Tarntanya/Adelaide and Berlin-based artist Ida Sophia works in sculpture, performance, and video. In her first solo exhibition in a public institution, the 40 day performance and installation work&nbsp;Patience and Penetentia, she examined the relational dynamic of the silent treatment. Enacted seven hours a day over a two-month period, Ida worked with Ashton Malcolm, Sarah Neville, OAKEY and Isobel Stolinski who joined her in the gallery. This public conversation between Samstag&rsquo;s Associate Curator Sarah Buckley and Ida Sophia was recorded on Tuesday 18 August as the exhibition was nearing its end. Reflecting on the experience, Ida discusses the genesis of her work, her abiding interest in religious iconography and the creative partnerships that sustain her practice.&nbsp;

n her first solo exhibition in a public institution, the 40 day performance and installation work Patience and Penetentia, Ida Sophia examines the relational dynamic of the silent treatment. 

Ida Sophia

Jemima Wyman (Palawa) is an LA-based artist and Samstag Scholar (2005). Over three decades, Wyman has explored collective organising, democracy and dissent through photographic collage, painting, performance, textiles and moving image. She joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala in the studio to discuss Deep Surface, a major survey exhibition devoted to her work now on at the Samstag Museum of Art.  They dive into the concepts, ethics and aesthetics that underpin and find expression through her practice. Jemima shares her encyclopaedic knowledge of global protest movements, what archiving processes work for her, and why even as a regular return visitor to Australia, LA suits her as a person and maker.  

Jemima Wyman: Deep Surface is a QUT Galleries and Museums travelling exhibition curated by Katherine Dionysius. The exhibition is on at the Samstag Museum of Art Friday 26 June — Friday 18 September 2026

Jemima Wyman (Palawa) is an LA-based artist and Samstag Scholar (2005). Over three decades, Wyman has explored collective organising, democracy and dissent through photographic collage, painting, performance, textiles and moving image. She joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala in the studio to discuss&nbsp;Deep Surface, a major survey exhibition devoted to her work now on at the Samstag Museum of Art.&nbsp; They dive into the concepts, ethics and aesthetics that underpin and find expression through her practice. Jemima shares her encyclopaedic knowledge of global protest movements, what archiving processes work for her, and why even as a regular return visitor to Australia, LA suits her as a person and maker. &nbsp;
Jemima Wyman: Deep Surface&nbsp;is a QUT Galleries and Museums travelling exhibition curated by Katherine Dionysius. The exhibition is on at the Samstag Museum of Art Friday 26 June &mdash; Friday 18 September 2026

Jemima Wyman (Palawa) is an LA-based artist and Samstag Scholar (2005) who shares her encyclopaedic knowledge of global protest movements, what archiving processes work for her, and why even as a regular return visitor to Australia, LA suits her as a person and maker.  

Jemima Wyman

Ellie Buttrose is the curator of the 2026 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, a survey exhibition featuring 24 artists across three venues: the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA), the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and Samstag Museum of Art. Joining Samstag’s Associate Curator Anna Zagala in the studio midway through the exhibition’s installation  Ellie shares how this survey of Australian contemporary art has unfolded and continues to surprise her, what these artworks and art practices reveal and why exhibition making is an experimental practice.

2026 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art Yield Strength
Friday 27 February — Monday 8 June 2026

Ellie Buttrose is the curator of the 2026 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, a survey exhibition featuring 24 artists across three venues: the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA), the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and Samstag Museum of Art. Joining Samstag&rsquo;s Associate Curator Anna Zagala in the studio midway through the exhibition&rsquo;s installation &nbsp;Ellie shares how this survey of Australian contemporary art has unfolded and continues to surprise her, what these artworks and art practices reveal and why exhibition making is an experimental practice.
2026 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art Yield Strength Friday 27 February &mdash; Monday 8 June 2026

Ellie Buttrose is the curator of the 2026 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, a survey exhibition featuring 24 artists across three venues: the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA), the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and Samstag Museum of Art.

Ellie Buttrose

In 2025 Samstag Museum of Art invited Kaurna-based artist and Samstag scholar Monte Masi to create a new work to be performed across multiple performances in the gallery. Monte joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss what drew him to art in the first place, the thrills and perils of the improvised unscripted encounters, and his experience living and studying in San Francisco during a tech boom and the tail end of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

https://www.nts.live/shows/extra-extra

https://www.montemasi.com/

In 2025 Samstag Museum of Art invited Kaurna-based artist and Samstag scholar Monte Masi to create a new work to be performed across multiple performances in the gallery. Monte joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss what drew him to art in the first place, the thrills and perils of the improvised unscripted encounters, and his experience living and studying in San Francisco during a tech boom and the tail end of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
<a href="https://www.nts.live/shows/extra-extra" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">https://www.nts.live/shows/extra-extra</a>
<a href="https://www.montemasi.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">https://www.montemasi.com/</a>

Monte joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss what drew him to art in the first place, the thrills and perils of the improvised unscripted encounters, and his experience living and studying in San Francisco during a tech boom and the tail end of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Monte Masi

Ryan Presley (Marri Ngarr) is a visual artist living on Yugambeh Country (Logan City, QLD). His practice spans painting, printmaking, sculpture, video, installation, and writing, and is marked by a deep engagement with the visual economies of power, memory, and resistance. 

Commissioned by the University in 2024 to paint a portrait of its Chancellor, the Honorable John Hill, Ryan joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala in the studio to discuss his exhibition Daydreamer, how growing up in Mparntwe/Alice Springs and an early love of drawing shaped his trajectory, and what he hoped to convey of the sitter in the portrait, currently on display at Samstag Museum of Art.

The episode concludes with a throw to Samstag and Ryan’s conversation with art historian Dr Andrea Bubenik.

Ryan Presley (Marri Ngarr) is a visual artist living on Yugambeh Country (Logan City, QLD). His practice spans painting, printmaking, sculpture, video, installation, and writing, and is marked by a deep engagement with the visual economies of power, memory, and resistance.&nbsp;
Commissioned by the University in 2024 to paint a portrait of its Chancellor, the Honorable John Hill, Ryan joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala in the studio to discuss his exhibition Daydreamer, how growing up in Mparntwe/Alice Springs and an early love of drawing shaped his trajectory, and what he hoped to convey of the sitter in the portrait, currently on display at Samstag Museum of Art.
The episode concludes with a throw to Samstag and Ryan&rsquo;s conversation with art historian Dr Andrea Bubenik.

Ryan joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala in the studio to discuss his exhibition Daydreamer, how growing up in Mparntwe/Alice Springs and an early love of drawing shaped his trajectory, and what he hoped to convey of the sitter in the portrait, currently on display at Samstag Museum of Art.

Ryan Presley

Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro have been life partners and artistic collaborators for over 25 years. They join Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss their new exhibition, Psychopomp, currently on display at Samstag Museum of Art. The outcome of the UniSA Jeffrey Smart Commission, the work is a cacophonous and vibrant moving image work that explores the porous relationship between science and mysticism. In this conversation, they delve into the history of rocket technology and its link to spirituality, contemporary pagan rituals, and why, after leading a peripatetic life, they decided to settle in the Blue Mountains.

Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro have been life partners and artistic collaborators for over 25 years. They join Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss their new exhibition,&nbsp;Psychopomp, currently on display at Samstag Museum of Art. The outcome of&nbsp;the UniSA Jeffrey Smart Commission, the work is a&nbsp;cacophonous and vibrant moving image work&nbsp;that explores the porous relationship between science and mysticism. In this conversation, they delve into the history of rocket technology and its link to spirituality, contemporary pagan rituals, and why, after leading a peripatetic life, they decided to settle in the Blue Mountains.

Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro have been life partners and artistic collaborators for over 25 years. They join Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss their new exhibition, Psychopomp, currently on display at Samstag Museum of Art

Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro

South Australian artist Louise Haselton was invited by curator Jasmin Stephens to create work in response to North Terrace, the cultural boulevard that runs through Tarntanya / Adelaide, for the exhibition North Terrace: worlds in relief, which recently opened at Samstag Museum of Art.

Louise joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala on the podcast to discuss, among other things, how a pamphlet in the University of South Australia’s Architecture Museum caught her eye, what walking North Terrace yielded, and the tactile pleasure of working with Japanese papers.

Louise Haselton is a visual artist who employs a range of presentations. Her practice explores the inherent qualities of everyday materials, seeking connections and relationships between seemingly disparate materials and objects gleaned from the world around us.

North Terrace: worlds in relief is on at the Samstag Museum of Art, 20 June – 26 September 2025.

The exhibition features Andrew Burrell / Allison Chhorn / Louise Haselton / the ArtHitects (Gary Carsley and Renjie Teoh) / with poetry by Natalie Harkin

ON ART is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Solstice Podcasting and produced by Tilly Balding in Tarntanya/Adelaide. The conversation was recorded 16 June 2025.

South Australian artist Louise Haselton was invited by curator Jasmin Stephens to create work in response to North Terrace, the cultural boulevard that runs through Tarntanya / Adelaide, for the exhibition North Terrace: worlds in relief, which recently opened at Samstag Museum of Art.
Louise joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala on the podcast to discuss, among other things, how a pamphlet in the University of South Australia&rsquo;s Architecture Museum caught her eye, what walking North Terrace yielded, and the tactile pleasure of working with Japanese papers.
Louise Haselton is a visual artist who employs a range of presentations. Her practice explores the inherent qualities of everyday materials, seeking connections and relationships between seemingly disparate materials and objects gleaned from the world around us.
North Terrace: worlds in relief is on at the Samstag Museum of Art, 20 June &ndash; 26 September 2025.
The exhibition features Andrew Burrell / Allison Chhorn / Louise Haselton / the ArtHitects (Gary Carsley and Renjie Teoh) / with poetry by Natalie Harkin
ON ART is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Solstice Podcasting and produced by Tilly Balding in Tarntanya/Adelaide. The conversation was recorded 16 June 2025.

Louise joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala on the podcast to discuss, among other things, how a pamphlet in the University of South Australia’s Architecture Museum caught her eye, what walking North Terrace yielded, and the tactile pleasure of working with Japanese papers.

Louise Haselton

Ahead of the launch of Samstag Museum of Art’s group exhibition Direct, Directed, Directly, Chinese Australian poet and artist Chunxiao Qu joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss her art practice.

Chunxiao Qu grew up in Qingdao, China, before emigrating to Naarm / Melbourne in 2015 to study at Monash University, where she is now based.

She shares why working with language interests her and what it does in her artworks, the impact of one dedicated tutor in shaping her art practice, and what drew her to working with LED neon.

Direct, Directed, Directly is on at the Samstag Museum of Art 28 February 2025 – 30 May 2025.

The exhibition features Richard Bell / Madison Bycroft / Kuba Dorabialski / Danielle Freakley / Christine Sun Kim and Thomas Mader / Monte Masi / Chunxiao Qu

ON ART is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Solstice Podcasting and produced by Tilly Balding in Tarntanya/Adelaide. The conversation was recorded 18 February 2025.

Ahead of the launch of Samstag Museum of Art&rsquo;s group exhibition Direct, Directed, Directly, Chinese Australian poet and artist Chunxiao Qu joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss her art practice.
Chunxiao Qu grew up in Qingdao, China, before emigrating to Naarm / Melbourne in 2015 to study at Monash University, where she is now based.
She shares why working with language interests her and what it does in her artworks, the impact of one dedicated tutor in shaping her art practice, and what drew her to working with LED neon.
Direct, Directed, Directly is on at the Samstag Museum of Art 28 February 2025 &ndash; 30 May 2025.
The exhibition&nbsp;features Richard Bell / Madison Bycroft / Kuba Dorabialski / Danielle Freakley / Christine Sun Kim and Thomas Mader / Monte Masi / Chunxiao Qu
ON ART is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Solstice Podcasting and produced by Tilly Balding in Tarntanya/Adelaide. The conversation was recorded 18 February 2025.

Ahead of the launch of Samstag Museum of Art’s group exhibition Direct, Directed, Directly, Chinese Australian poet and artist Chunxiao Qu joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss her art practice.

Chunxiao Qu

In this episode, Samstag Associate Curator Anna Zagala speaks with artist Archie Moore (Kamilaroi / Bigambul) and film maker Molly Reynolds. Molly worked with Archie to produce his Samstag Museum of Art / 2024 Adelaide Film Festival moving image commission Archie Moore: Dwelling (Adelaide Issue). The exhibition is on at Samstag until 29 November 2024.

On the day the exhibition launch, they discuss their preparation for the work, how Archie’s love of films and personal history was a source of inspiration, and the curious experience of displaying personal objects, a process that has transformed them into artifacts.

The episode concludes with an address by Djon Mundine OAM delivered to an appreciative crowd in Fenn Place, outside the Samstag Museum of Art, later that afternoon.

You can hear both Djon Mundine and Archie Moore on earlier episodes of the ON ART podcast.

Djon Mundine – Episode 24

Archie Moore – Episode 28

ON ART is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Solstice Podcasting. It is produced by Tilly Balding in Tarntanya/Adelaide. The conversation was recorded on 22 October 2024. 

In this episode, Samstag Associate Curator Anna Zagala speaks with artist Archie Moore (Kamilaroi / Bigambul) and film maker Molly Reynolds. Molly worked with Archie to produce his Samstag Museum of Art / 2024 Adelaide Film Festival moving image commission Archie Moore: Dwelling (Adelaide Issue). The exhibition is on at Samstag until 29 November 2024.
On the day the exhibition launch, they discuss their preparation for the work, how Archie’s love of films and personal history was a source of inspiration, and the curious experience of displaying personal objects, a process that has transformed them into artifacts.
The episode concludes with an address by Djon Mundine OAM delivered to an appreciative crowd in Fenn Place, outside the Samstag Museum of Art, later that afternoon.
You can hear both Djon Mundine and Archie Moore on earlier episodes of the ON ART podcast.
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/on-art/djon-mundine-oam">Djon Mundine – Episode 24</a>
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/on-art/archie-moore">Archie Moore – Episode 28</a>
ON ART is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Solstice Podcasting. It is produced by Tilly Balding in Tarntanya/Adelaide. The conversation was recorded on 22 October 2024.

In this episode, Samstag Associate Curator Anna Zagala speaks with artist Archie Moore (Kamilaroi / Bigambul) and film maker Molly Reynolds.

Archie Moore & Molly Reynolds

Kaurna/Adelaide-based artist, researcher and 2024 Samstag Scholar Ash Tower joins Samstag Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss his love of learning, what influenced him to select the British School at Rome, Italy, and the importance of preparation. 

ON ART is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Solstice Podcasting. It is produced by Tilly Balding in Tarntanya/Adelaide. The conversation was recorded on 4 September 2024. 

Learn more about the Anne & Gordon Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarship here.

Instagram link: Ash Tower

Kaurna/Adelaide-based artist, researcher and 2024 Samstag Scholar Ash Tower joins Samstag Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss his love of learning, what influenced him to select the British School at Rome, Italy, and the importance of preparation. 
ON ART is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Solstice Podcasting. It is produced by Tilly Balding in Tarntanya/Adelaide. The conversation was recorded on 4 September 2024. 
Learn more about the Anne &amp; Gordon Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarship <a href="https://unisa.edu.au/connect/samstag-museum/scholarship/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">here</a>.
Instagram link:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ash.tower/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1"> Ash Tower</a>

Kaurna/Adelaide-based artist, researcher and 2024 Samstag Scholar Ash Tower joins Samstag Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss his love of learning, what influenced him to select the British School at Rome, Italy, and the importance of preparation.

Ash Tower

Talks and discussions that follow the lead of contemporary art, from the Samstag Museum of Art at the University of South Australia.

ON ART

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