The Lipstick Effect: A Femme Lensed Exhibition at the Sydney Opera House, Presented by Agender

Transforming the Opera House’s Western Broadwalk into an open-air gallery from 1 – 9 March 2025, The Lipstick Effect brings together powerful visual storytelling and the thought-provoking perspectives of past All About Women speakers. The exhibition celebrates International Women’s Day 2025 through the creation of an immersive space for dialogue, reflection, and activism.

A Celebration of Strength, Creativity, and Representation Buying small indulgences – like lipstick – during times of economic hardship is so common that the phenomenon has been nicknamed ‘the lipstick effect’. The Lipstick Effect exhibition reframes this notion as a symbol of ingenuity, resilience and the complexity of women’s experiences.

The Lipstick Effect pairs works by 18 acclaimed Australian female photographers with ideas from past and present All About Women speakers — celebrated writers, thinkers, and social commentators who have shaped global conversations on pressing issues in the community. The result is a dynamic dialogue between art and discourse, challenging perspectives on gender, identity, and social justice.

Featuring fine art, fashion, advertising, documentary and portrait photography, the exhibition showcases the diverse and evolving female gaze.

Agender is a gender equality initiative founded by Cybele Malinowski and Angela Liang, celebrating the talent, wisdom, and experience of female-identifying photographers and directors.

Driven by the belief that representation matters, Agender amplifies diverse perspectives through exhibitions, campaigns, and cultural conversations. By showcasing female talent and fostering connections between artists, brands, and institutions, Agender creates pathways for creatives and drives meaningful change in the arts and advertising industries—fields that remain predominantly male.

In an industry where women are significantly underrepresented, Agender's work is pivotal in transforming how society perceives and values women's contributions to visual culture.

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February

Brisbane: Until 13 July 2025. Amateur Brisbane photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870-1954) extraordinary images lay dormant for decades until they were discovered only recently. This exhibition is curated by seven Brisbane photographers.

Perth: Until 18 May 2025. Henry Roy – Impossible Island draws on 40-years of recollections and observations as it brings together 113 photos taken from 1983 to 2023.

Sydney: Until 31 Dec 2025. PIX, Australia’s first pictorial news weekly, is brought to life in this exhibition, showcasing its archived images and stories for the very first time.

Sydney: Until 30 June. The photographs in Max Dupain: Student Life were taken at the University of Sydney in the early 1950s, a period of rapid change marked by the politics of the Cold War.

Melbourne: Until 26 April 2025. The exhibition features 52 works from the National Portrait Gallery’s collection of dance legends and reflects the freedom and joy of dance and its power to connect.

Sydney: Until 27 April 2025. Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition. Featuring 118 extraordinary images, this exhibition explores the awe-inspiring beauty and fragility of our oceans.

Canberra: 27 Feb until 20 July 2025. The National Library has invited renowned Australian photojournalist Mike Bowers to select some of his favourite images from the Fairfax Photo Archive.

March

Melbourne: 1 March – 25 May 2025. Featuring the work of approximately 60 artists, The Basement brings to light rare vintage prints from the 1960s – 1980s, from students and teachers of the College’s Diploma of Art & Design (Photography).

Canberra: 6 March – 5 April 2025. Counter-sites is an exhibition program bringing together the work of seven artists whose lens-based practices dismantle, dissect and destabilise the complex relationship between photography and place.

Hills End NSW: 28-30 March 2025. Join Moshe Rosenzveig OAM, Director of Head On Photo Festival, alongside distinguished photographers Murray Fredericks and Judith Nangala Crispin for an immersive extended weekend workshop.