Group exhibitions, showcasing a collection of artists, occur in commercial galleries or museums for several reasons. Curatorially, they provide an opportunity to tell a narrative through the similarities and differences of various artists’ works. In commercial spaces they are often the first outing for newer artists showing alongside the more established, or they are celebrations that mark the passage of time for a specific space and honour artists that have defined that place. This edition of Art Agenda is in celebration of all these modes of the group show and more.

The idea of loneliness is a central unifying theme for the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art Melbourne’s latest exhibition Are you lonely tonight? I’m so lonesome I could cry. The exhibition – which runs from 3 July to 30 August – brings together 11 Australian and International artists around a response to the lonely. The exhibition sits as part of a series curated by Director Myles Russell-Cook and curator Sophie Prince. The subsequent editions in 2027 and 2029 will look at ideas of rage and joy. The exhibition includes the work of Los Angeles based Australian artist Polly Borland.

Borland is an artist working across mediums whose previous portraits of Nick Cave and the Late Queen Elizabeth II received international acclaim. For this exhibition she'll show a series of sculptures including a central figure entitled BOD 2023 which resembles a distorted human experiencing grief, anxiety and exhaustion. A proto portrait of emotion expressed through form. Works like these engage viewers in the sense that they are not literal human representations but relatable undefined forms that speak to a universality of feelings of disconnectedness and hopelessness.

These ideas are also explored humorously in artist Seth Brown’s work Frank 2024 an animatronic sculpture of a mustard bottle and a hot dog endlessly scrolling images of bread on a phone. An allegory for digital disconnection in the modern world. These two works represent the light and shade of an exhibition analysing a central theme from different perspectives. This ability to process complex emotions visually is a cornerstone of why artists and their works are important.

One of Australia’s most dynamic commercial galleries Neon Parc hosts XX a group exhibition in celebration of its 20 years of operation. The show which runs from 26 June is a who’s who of Australian artists running from the late David McDiarmid to First Nations powerhouse Kait James and artist/musician Darren Sylvester. The gallery is run by Geoff Newton, himself an artist and has always been a space of innovation with an artist first approach. A central image to promote the show is an enormous champagne tower by Darren Sylvester entitled Ten-Tier Tower, part of a series for the upcoming Sydney Contemporary. This work is a reminder that galleries are not just spaces of commerce but also places of community and celebrations. The joy of an art opening with wine flowing and conversations is a defining element in artists’ lives. An opportunity to connect and celebrate. XX reflects a significant anniversary for Neon Parc and a vibrant achievement in a notoriously hard world.

Ngununggula is a popular destination gallery in New South Wales Southern Highlands championed by their arts community including notables such as artist Ben Quilty. From 27 June they host New Religion, a group exhibition curated by Milena Stojanovska. The exhibition looks at faith as a central idea from contemporary and historical perspectives. Sensationally it includes works from 18th Century artist William Blake alongside First Nations artist Hayley Millar Baker and numerous other historical and contemporary artists.

Sydney-based artist Nell presents a work entitled Guardians of the Eastern Dark from 2005. This work reflects ongoing interests that the artist still explores in her work today. Reoccurring motifs such as crosses and eggs refer to religiosity contrasted with snakes, monsters and AC/DC-style lightning bolts. Nell’s work like the collection of works in this exhibition creates meaning beyond the works being presented in isolation. Inherent in the exhibitions proposition is the tension between ideas of personal faith and religious structures.

The unifying thread between these three exhibitions is the idea of the power of placing works by very different artists alongside each other whilst looking at central themes. This creates a dynamism and is generative in its intent.