The McGlade Gallery is a hub for the creative community in Sydney's inner west.
Through a program of curated exhibitions, the gallery focuses on the work of talented locals, including current students, staff, and ACU alumni, as well as other artists and designers who live and work nearby.
In addition to welcoming the public, the gallery plays a pivotal role in teaching and learning at ACU Strathfield. Through initiatives like the annual exhibition The Local, students can exhibit alongside industry professionals. Throughout the year, the McGlade Gallery serves as an incubator space for students' ideas.
Other highlights from the annual McGlade Gallery calendar include three dynamic exhibitions showcasing talented secondary students within the Sydney Catholic Schools network and the end-of-year Graduate Exhibition, which celebrates the achievements of ACU Strathfield's final-year visual arts and design students.
Entry to all exhibitions in the McGlade Gallery is free, and the gallery has wheelchair access via the Gate 2 entrance.
View our exhibition archive here
Utility, installation view, 2025.Title: Utility: 2026
Description: Students from Visual Art & Design and Design & Technology show together in this collaborative exhibition which showcases the breadth of creative talent at ACU.
Dates: 23 February – 20 March 2026
This show is open Monday to Friday 11am-4pm
Tracey Clement, Wear and Tear, 2005-2026.Title: Mixed Dozen: Drawing
Description: In this group exhibition six senior Australian artists who teach, or have taught, will each select a former student. All twelve artists (a Mixed Dozen) will present drawings, highlighting the multifarious possibilities of the genre.
The senior artists include: Peter Burgess, Tracey Clement, collaborative duo Julia Davis and Lisa Jones, Annelies Jahn, Kendal Heyes, and Kurt Schranzer.
Dates: 16 April – 14 May 2026
Inner West Neighbourhood Aid seniors’ exhibition at the McGlade Gallery, 2025.Title: Shining the Light
Description: Intergenerational Inner West Neighbourhood Aid project using multi-media to showcase the lives of older people within the community. Supported by Strathfield Council.
Dates: 22 June – 3 July 2026
The Local logo by McGlade Gallery intern Alexandra Micallef.Title: The Local 2026
Description: In the fourth edition of our annual showcase of homegrown talent ACU Strathfield’s students, staff and alumni shine side-by-side. Timed to coincide with Open Day this exhibition is a key recruitment/marketing tool. In 2026 long-time staff member Lachlan Warner will present works from his ongoing investigation into Buddhist tenets and themes of transformation alongside politically potent paintings by ACU alumnus Farzana Ahmad (2022), and drawings, ceramics, videos, photography, paintings and sculpture by current students.
Dates: 20 July – 29 August 2026
The Clancy Prize in the McGlade Gallery, 2025. Photo Vincent Nguyen.Title: Clancy Religious Art Prize Exhibition
Description: The annual Clancy Religious Art Prize Exhibition showcases the creativity and talent of selected secondary students from Sydney Catholic Schools.
Dates: 11-19 October 2026
Sean Maquiran with his work in the 2025 end-of-year showTitle: Visual Art and Design end-of-year show
Description: Visual Arts and Design students from ACU Strathfield celebrate the culmination of their creative educations in this annual exhibition.
Dates: 11-21 November 2026
Alyssa Jahja with her winning work, 2025.Title: SCS and ACU Portrait Prize
Description: In this collaborative initiative students from Sydney Catholic Schools and ACU Strathfield offer fresh perspectives on portraiture. Includes masterclasses for SCS and ACU students and a panel discussion on portraiture open to the public and high school students
Dates: 10-19 Dec 2026
The McGlade Gallery is located on ACU’s Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) at 25a Barker Road, Strathfield.
It is open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 4pm, during exhibition periods.
In addition to being the McGlade Gallery Coordinator, Tracey is a Lecturer in visual arts and design as well as being a practising artist and arts writer.
Contact: Tracey.Clement@acu.edu.au
It is a requirement of the ACU Gallery at Strathfield that artist(s) and/or other exhibitors are responsible for the following:
The ACU Gallery at Strathfield is available for hire for private and corporate functions. Hiring charges are available on request from Campus Operations, telephone 02 9701 4266.
Additional services and facilities available within the university:
The McGlade Gallery invites expressions of interest (EOIs) from artists and designers with strong connections to Strathfield and the surrounding area.
Are you a former student at ACU Mount St Mary? Did you grow up in the area? Do you currently live locally or work nearby? If so, we would love to hear your exhibition ideas!
Your EOI should include:
Dr Tracey Clement: McGlade Gallery Coordinator
Tracey.Clement@acu.edu.au
We're available 9am–5pm AEDT,
Monday to Friday
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