Artworks from Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
23 May - 20 September 2026
Spanning nearly a century of artistic innovation, Facing Modernity: Degas to Picasso brings together 37 exceptional paintings and sculptures from the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki never before shown in Australia that capture the radical shifts in art from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century.
Audiences will embark on a journey tracing the major art movements of the modern era, from Impressionism and Post-Impressionism to Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism and post-war abstraction, through works from icons of the age, including Pierre Bonnard, Georges Braque, Paul Cezanne, Salvador Dalí, Paul Gauguin, Barbara Hepworth, Fernand Léger, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso.
This significant collection includes a major philanthropic gift from New York-based collectors Julian Robertson (1932-2022) and Josie Robertson (1943-2010) to Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in 2023. Their generous bequest offers a rare glimpse into the vision of two passionate art patrons and their lifelong commitment to sharing and celebrating modern art.
From the sensual nudes and atmospheric brushwork of late 19th century Impressionism to the geometric intensity of Cubism and the dreamlike worlds of Surrealism, Facing Modernity traces how artists shattered conventions and reimagined the world anew.
Facing Modernity: Degas to Picasso will be a ticketed exhibition.
Ticket bookings will open at 10am on Thursday 23 April 2026.
Exhibition ticket prices
|
|
Single ticket price |
Double-pass ticket price (entry to Facing Modernity & Archibald Prize) |
Multi-pass price (five entries) |
|
Adult |
$24.00 |
$48.00 |
N/A |
|
Greater Shepparton residents Concession card holders |
$19.00 |
$38.00 |
$80.00* *Available to Greater Shepparton residents only |
|
Friend of SAM member |
$17.00 |
$34.00 |
$70.00 |
|
Teens aged 13-18 |
$12.00 |
$24.00 |
N/A |
|
Children aged 12 and under |
Free |
Free |
N/A |
Please note: A surcharge will apply to all payments made via credit/debit card.
Ticket types:
Single ticket: A ticket that grants the ticket holder timed entry to one exhibition on a specified date and time. Single tickets can be booked online and in person.
Double-pass ticket: A ticket that grants the ticket holder entry to both Facing Modernity and Archibald Prize 2026 during one visit on a specified date and time (valid between 5 September – 20 September 2026).
Multi-pass ticket: A flexible ticket available to Greater Shepparton residents and Friends of SAM members that grants the ticket holder five entries to paid exhibitions. The multi-pass ticket can be used across both Facing Modernity and Archibald Prize 2026 and is valid from 23 May to 1 November 2026.
Concession tickets are valid for:
During Facing Modernity, SAM will be open 7 days a week - meaning whatever your schedule, SAM will be here to welcome you to world-class arts experiences.
SAM will be open from 10AM-4PM daily, with extended hours to 7PM every Friday evening from 23 May to 20 September.
Please visit the SAM website for details about Group bookings and School bookings, Frequently Asked Questions and to purchase tickets.
