RMOA Invites Audiences to Slow Down with New Exhibition 'Intimacy'
Published on 25 March 2026
Opening 28 March | Rockhampton Museum of Art
In a world overflowing with images that flash past in seconds, Rockhampton Museum of Art (RMOA) is asking visitors to do something radical: stop, slow down, and truly look.
Opening on 28 March, Intimacy brings together a remarkable group of artists whose work draws upon the personal, the contemplative, and the deeply felt. Rather than competing for instant attention or seeking the next “Instagram moment,” this exhibition invites audiences to embrace presence, encouraging a profound, emotional connection that lingers long after leaving the gallery.
Research suggests the average viewer spends just 15–30 seconds looking at an artwork—roughly the time it takes to scroll past a post on a screen. Intimacy turns this behaviour upside down. Instead of spectacle or clever tricks, the exhibition privileges feeling, authenticity, and depth. Each artwork has been sensitively arranged and lit to encourage stillness, discovery, and a sense of communion between the viewer and the work.
Rockhampton Regional Council Communities, Arts and Heritage spokesperson Councillor Drew Wickerson said “Intimacy is an important exhibition because it asks us to do something we rarely make time for which is to slow down and genuinely connect. It reminds us that art isn’t just something to glance at, but something to experience deeply.
“RMOA continues to offer exhibitions that challenge, enrich, and inspire our community, and Intimacy is a powerful example of that ambition,” he said.
Curated by RMOA Director Jonathan McBurnie, Intimacy has been crafted specifically for the museum’s vast spaces. The result is an experience designed not for distraction, but for resonance.
“So much of contemporary life is designed to distract or impress at a glance,” McBurnie says.
“With Intimacy, we wanted to create a space where visitors can experience the profound and the personal—artworks that open up slowly, reward attention, and remain with you long after you’ve left the gallery.”
Featuring works by Ron Adams, Roy Ananda, Nick Ashby, John Baldessari, Vicky Browne, Kirsty Bruce, Eugene Carchesio, Regi Cherini, Julie Fragar, Ian Friend, Miles Hall, Michelle Hamer, Caitlin Hespe, Carol Jerrems, Talitha Kennedy, Jo Lankester, Norman Lindsay, Don Nace, Robert Preston, Lorna Quinn, Joel Rea, Edward Ruscha, Sandra Selig, Edward Steichen, Elizabeth Shaw, Gemma Smith, Paul Trefry and Ben Trupperbaumer, the exhibition spans generations, mediums, and sensibilities—all united by a shared focus on the internal and the emotionally charged.
A highlight of the exhibition is Joel Rea’s Kingdom (2024), a majestic oil painting exploring humanity's resilience, the mysteries of the cosmos, and the raw power of nature. Known for his meticulously rendered waves, symbolic self-portraits, and motifs drawn from his upbringing along Australia’s wild coastline, Rea’s work captures the sublime at its most intense and magnetic.
ENDS
Exhibition Events
Artist Demonstration: Talitha Kennedy
Wednesday 25 March | 10:00 am
Watch acclaimed artist Talitha Kennedy demonstrate her practice and explore the tactile, meditative processes behind her work.
Exhibition Launch
Friday 27 March | 6:00 pm
Celebrate the opening of Intimacy with artists, art lovers, and community members. Tickets are essential. Book online at www.rmoa.com.au
Artist Talk
Saturday 28 March | 10:00 am
Hear directly from participating artists as they share insights into their practice and the themes of the exhibition.
Michelle Hamer Workshop Expressions of Interest
On request
Community groups of up to 10 participants are invited to submit an expression of interest to participate in a special workshop creating ‘found poetry’ through interacting with the work of Michelle Hamer’s work ‘There Are No Words’ 2016.
About the Curator
Artist, writer, curator, and lifelong contributor to Queensland’s visual arts Jonathan McBurnie leads RMOA with a vision that blends rigorous scholarship with bold, imaginative programming. Under his direction, RMOA has cemented its place as a must-visit cultural destination in Central Queensland. McBurnie holds a PhD from the University of Sydney and a BFA (Hons) from Queensland College of Art.
Exhibition Details
Intimacy
Rockhampton Museum of Art
28 March – 5 July 2026
Free entry