Emotion on Display

This winter, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) invites visitors to explore that idea through Are you lonely tonight? I’m so lonesome I could cry., a major new exhibition opening from 3 July to 30 August. 

Marking the launch of ACCA’s new Art and Emotion series, the exhibition brings together the work of eleven acclaimed Australian and international artists across painting, sculpture, installation, photography and moving image. Through humour, memory, intimacy and digital culture, the exhibition considers how loneliness is experienced, expressed and even resisted in contemporary life. 

Rather than viewing loneliness as something to be hidden, the exhibition presents it as a deeply human emotion that connects us all. From reflections on nightlife and relationships to commentary on internet culture and everyday rituals, each work offers a unique perspective on belonging, vulnerability and connection. 

Among the highlights are a seven-metre woven tapestry by Los Angeles artist Kayla Mattes inspired by memes and heartbreak in the digital age, an animatronic sculpture by Seth Brown that humorously explores online dependency, and a new video installation by Melbourne artist Callum McGrath capturing the emotional complexity of the city’s nightlife. 

ACCA Artistic Director and CEO Myles Russell-Cook describes the exhibition as the first chapter in an ongoing series examining the emotions that shape our lives, with future instalments set to explore rage and joy. 

Located in Southbank, ACCA has long been recognised for presenting thought-provoking contemporary art, and this latest exhibition continues that tradition with a timely and deeply resonant theme. 

Are you lonely tonight? I’m so lonesome I could cry. runs from Friday 3 July to Sunday 30 August 2026 at ACCA, 111 Sturt Street, Southbank. Entry is free, with opening hours Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 5pm and weekends from 11am to 5pm. 
 
LEARN MORE: https://acca.melbourne/exhibition/are-you-lonely-tonight-im-so-lonesome-i-could-cry/