Gordon Syron Retrospective

Syron's War

April 2026 · Newstead Art, Bondi Beach, NSW

A major retrospective exhibition of paintings created by the Biripi and Worimi elder, Gordon Syron, with works on loan from the National Gallery of Australia and the National Museum of Australia. Curated by the highly respected Bunjalung elder Djon Mundine, this exhibition illuminates Gordon Syron’s formative role in the‘urban Aboriginal art movement’, and the strength of his representation in important collections, and includes works from the Syron archives which will be offered to collecting institutions and selected private collections. The Artist Gordon Syron has been an inspirational role model and is recognised as a seminal figure in urban and contemporary Aboriginal painting in prison in 1972 and, following his release, co-founded the visual and performing arts college, the EORA Centre, becoming its first visual arts teacher. Amongst the many Indigenous artists who credit Syron with having been an important influence on their work are Queensland political satirist Gordon Hookey; National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award winner Richard Bell; Multi Media artist Karla Dickens; and painter, photographer, cartoonist, and graphic designer Adam Hill, winner of the Archibald Prize. Following a period of seclusion during the 1980s his renewed interest and involvement in the politics & history of Aboriginal self-determination saw him paint a major series on the theme of Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. He later became the President of The Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Committee in Sydney. Syron’s first retrospective, officially opened by Dr Vivien Johnson, was held in 1998, at the Australian Museum in Sydney. During that year he became artist-in-residence at the Humanist Society and, in 2000 ,he created a solo exhibition for the Humanist International Forum at the Law School of the University of Technology, Sydney. Syron’s works were officially exhibited during the 2000 Sydney Olympics; in the Australian Pavilion at the 2004 Greek Olympics, and in the foyer of the Australian Pavilion at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. During 2009 Syron won the University of NSW College of Fine Art (COFA) award, and the NSW Parliament House Prize. The National Museum of Australia acquired a major collection of his works in 2010 and he was subsequently appointed Adjunct Professor of Indigenous Art at the University of Technology, Sydney. Amongst many national and international collections of distinction that Gordon Syron’s works are held in, are the collections of the Sydney Maritime Museum, the Sydney Museum, the National Australian Museum, the Aboriginal Legal Service, the Aboriginal Medical Service, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, the Aboriginal Arts Board, the University of Adelaide, Flinders University, the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, and the National Trust. Syron has made a career of tackling the tough issues on the margin between cultures. He has primarily exhibited within the Aboriginal community of Redfern for more than 30 years.

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Works in this exhibition56

Click on available works to view more details.

Gordon Syron

Bury the Living, 1993

lithograph on paper

58 x 76 cm

Gordon Syron

The Narcissistic Red Coat, 2002

oil on paper

57.5 x 40 cm; 77 x 59 cm frame

Gordon Syron

Narcissistic Red Coat, 2002

oil on canvas

57.5 x 40 cm; 77.5 x 59 cm (frame)

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Red coat Invasion, 2003

oil on canvas

75 x 36.5 cm

Gordon Syron

Waratah Forest, 2011

oil on canvas

50 x 60 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

The Gender of God, 2009

oil on canvas

50 x 45 cm; 53 x 48.5 cm frame

Gordon Syron

Black angel in the bush, c. 2010

oil on canvas

60 x 45 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Self Portrait. Dreaming Man, 2002

oil on canvas

45 x 50 cm ; 56 x 62 cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Black fairies + spinifex pigeon, 2008

oil on canvas

46 x 40 cm; 48 x 44 cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Serenity at Black Light House Museum, 1993

oil on canvas board

30.5 x 25.5 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

The Poisoning of the Waterholes, 2000

oil on canvas

49 x 31 cm; 53 x 35.5 cm frame

Gordon Syron

Red coats at the waterhole, 2002

oil on canvas

49 x 31 cm; 52.5 x 37 cm frame

Gordon Syron

The Dreaming Man, 2007

oil on canvas

40 x 50 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

The Last Bottle, 2003

oil on canvas board

45.5 x 35 cm

Gordon Syron

Where the Wildflowers Once Grew, c. 2005

oil on linen

76 x 100 cm

Gordon Syron

Black Ballerina, 2012

oil on linen

61 x 76.5 cm

Gordon Syron

Black Ballerina, 2011

oil on canvas

60 x 50 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Black Ballerina, 2002

oil on canvas

58 x 41 cm ; 84 x 67 cm frame

Gordon Syron

The Waratah Forest, 2004

unique digital print on canvas

164.5 x 75 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Women's Circle, 2015

oil on canvas

100.5 x 128.5 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Eveleigh St. the Block, 2001

oil on canvas

76 x 56 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Head Poisoner, 2008

oil on canvas board

76 x 51 cm; 79.5 x 54 cm frame

Gordon Syron

Judgement By His Peers, 1978

oil on canvas

75 x 105 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

No Trees & Here Come The Red Coats, 2005

oil on canvas

121.5 x 182.5 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

David Gulpilil AM, 1988

oil on canvas

140 x 99 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Bondi - Black Beach, 2002

oil on canvas

126 x 138 cm; 132.5 x 144.5 cm (frame)

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Women's Circle, 2015

oil on canvas

75 x 104 cm

Gordon Syron

Original Diggers in France 1917, 2008

oil on canvas

91.5 x 76 cm

Gordon Syron

Where the Wildflowers Once Grew, 2012

oil on canvas

70.5 x 94 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

The Women's Circle, 2014

oil on canvas

91 x 122 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Hanging Gums, 2012

oil on canvas

120 x 90 cm

Gordon Syron

Enlist Here, 2007

oil on canvas

110 x 80 cm

Gordon Syron

Snailly 13, 2007-2008

oil on canvas

202 x 140 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

George Rrurrambu Burarrwanga (Warumpi Band) (1957-2007), 1999

oil on canvas

107 x 76 cm; 119.5 x 88cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Gadachi Man (Clever Foot), 2002

oil on board

140 x 88 cm; 145 x 94 cm (frame)

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Peter Leonard Campbell, 1993

oil on canvas

91 x 122 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Miss Future Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, 2003-2004

oil on canvas

120 x 100 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Untitled (Mimi Spirits), 2005

oil on canvas

122 x 128 cm

Gordon Syron

The Black Bastards are Coming, 2008

oil on canvas

89 x 110 cm

Gordon Syron

Where the Wildflowers Once Grew, 2006

oil on canvas

35.5 x 51.5 cm; 40 x 55 cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Minimbah, 2000

oil on canvas

47 x 54 cm (irreg); 52 x 58.5 frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Women's Circle, 2015

oil on canvas

54 x 67 cm; 57.5 x 70.5 cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Water hole of the sleepy lizard, 1983

oil on canvas

54.5 x 34 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Bury the Living II, 1997 - 1998

91.5 x 122 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Sydney Harbour, An Aboriginal Perspective, 2003

oil on canvas

172 x 235 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

The Waratah Forest, 2011

oil on canvas

205 x 140 cm

Gordon Syron

Thomas William Murray, 1993

oil on canvas

122 x 91 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

The Woman Who Died at Ceduna (February 1983), 1993

oil on canvas

91 x 122 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Minimbah, 2000

oil on canvas

47 x 54 cm (irreg); 52 x 58.5 frame

Gordon Syron

Solitary Tree, c. early 1980s

oil on canvas

102 x 101.8 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Meeting Place: Spirits of the Past and Present, 2005

oil on canvas

148.5 x 227 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Dairy I, 1984

oil on canvas

52 x 65 cm; 57 x 70 cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Dairy II, 1984

oil on canvas

56 x 50 cm; 61 x 55 cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Waratah Fairies, 2009

unique digital print on canvas

41 x 56 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Mum Shirl – Black Saint of Redfern, 1987

oil on canvas

61 x 81.5 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Gum Trees, 2005

oil on canvas

98.5 x 52 cm; 102 x 55.5 cm frame

SOLD

Exhibition photographs

1 / 4

Syron's War

April 2026 · Newstead Art, Bondi Beach, NSW

Works in this exhibition56

Click on available works to view more details.

Gordon Syron

Bury the Living, 1993

lithograph on paper

58 x 76 cm

Gordon Syron

The Narcissistic Red Coat, 2002

oil on paper

57.5 x 40 cm; 77 x 59 cm frame

Gordon Syron

Narcissistic Red Coat, 2002

oil on canvas

57.5 x 40 cm; 77.5 x 59 cm (frame)

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Red coat Invasion, 2003

oil on canvas

75 x 36.5 cm

Gordon Syron

Waratah Forest, 2011

oil on canvas

50 x 60 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

The Gender of God, 2009

oil on canvas

50 x 45 cm; 53 x 48.5 cm frame

Gordon Syron

Black angel in the bush, c. 2010

oil on canvas

60 x 45 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Self Portrait. Dreaming Man, 2002

oil on canvas

45 x 50 cm ; 56 x 62 cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Black fairies + spinifex pigeon, 2008

oil on canvas

46 x 40 cm; 48 x 44 cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Serenity at Black Light House Museum, 1993

oil on canvas board

30.5 x 25.5 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

The Poisoning of the Waterholes, 2000

oil on canvas

49 x 31 cm; 53 x 35.5 cm frame

Gordon Syron

Red coats at the waterhole, 2002

oil on canvas

49 x 31 cm; 52.5 x 37 cm frame

Gordon Syron

The Dreaming Man, 2007

oil on canvas

40 x 50 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

The Last Bottle, 2003

oil on canvas board

45.5 x 35 cm

Gordon Syron

Where the Wildflowers Once Grew, c. 2005

oil on linen

76 x 100 cm

Gordon Syron

Black Ballerina, 2012

oil on linen

61 x 76.5 cm

Gordon Syron

Black Ballerina, 2011

oil on canvas

60 x 50 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Black Ballerina, 2002

oil on canvas

58 x 41 cm ; 84 x 67 cm frame

Gordon Syron

The Waratah Forest, 2004

unique digital print on canvas

164.5 x 75 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Women's Circle, 2015

oil on canvas

100.5 x 128.5 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Eveleigh St. the Block, 2001

oil on canvas

76 x 56 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Head Poisoner, 2008

oil on canvas board

76 x 51 cm; 79.5 x 54 cm frame

Gordon Syron

Judgement By His Peers, 1978

oil on canvas

75 x 105 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

No Trees & Here Come The Red Coats, 2005

oil on canvas

121.5 x 182.5 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

David Gulpilil AM, 1988

oil on canvas

140 x 99 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Bondi - Black Beach, 2002

oil on canvas

126 x 138 cm; 132.5 x 144.5 cm (frame)

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Women's Circle, 2015

oil on canvas

75 x 104 cm

Gordon Syron

Original Diggers in France 1917, 2008

oil on canvas

91.5 x 76 cm

Gordon Syron

Where the Wildflowers Once Grew, 2012

oil on canvas

70.5 x 94 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

The Women's Circle, 2014

oil on canvas

91 x 122 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Hanging Gums, 2012

oil on canvas

120 x 90 cm

Gordon Syron

Enlist Here, 2007

oil on canvas

110 x 80 cm

Gordon Syron

Snailly 13, 2007-2008

oil on canvas

202 x 140 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

George Rrurrambu Burarrwanga (Warumpi Band) (1957-2007), 1999

oil on canvas

107 x 76 cm; 119.5 x 88cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Gadachi Man (Clever Foot), 2002

oil on board

140 x 88 cm; 145 x 94 cm (frame)

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Peter Leonard Campbell, 1993

oil on canvas

91 x 122 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Miss Future Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, 2003-2004

oil on canvas

120 x 100 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Untitled (Mimi Spirits), 2005

oil on canvas

122 x 128 cm

Gordon Syron

The Black Bastards are Coming, 2008

oil on canvas

89 x 110 cm

Gordon Syron

Where the Wildflowers Once Grew, 2006

oil on canvas

35.5 x 51.5 cm; 40 x 55 cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Minimbah, 2000

oil on canvas

47 x 54 cm (irreg); 52 x 58.5 frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Women's Circle, 2015

oil on canvas

54 x 67 cm; 57.5 x 70.5 cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Water hole of the sleepy lizard, 1983

oil on canvas

54.5 x 34 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Bury the Living II, 1997 - 1998

91.5 x 122 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Sydney Harbour, An Aboriginal Perspective, 2003

oil on canvas

172 x 235 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

The Waratah Forest, 2011

oil on canvas

205 x 140 cm

Gordon Syron

Thomas William Murray, 1993

oil on canvas

122 x 91 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

The Woman Who Died at Ceduna (February 1983), 1993

oil on canvas

91 x 122 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Minimbah, 2000

oil on canvas

47 x 54 cm (irreg); 52 x 58.5 frame

Gordon Syron

Solitary Tree, c. early 1980s

oil on canvas

102 x 101.8 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Meeting Place: Spirits of the Past and Present, 2005

oil on canvas

148.5 x 227 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Dairy I, 1984

oil on canvas

52 x 65 cm; 57 x 70 cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Dairy II, 1984

oil on canvas

56 x 50 cm; 61 x 55 cm frame

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Waratah Fairies, 2009

unique digital print on canvas

41 x 56 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Mum Shirl – Black Saint of Redfern, 1987

oil on canvas

61 x 81.5 cm

SOLD

Gordon Syron

Gum Trees, 2005

oil on canvas

98.5 x 52 cm; 102 x 55.5 cm frame

SOLD