What began as a shared ambition between two friends has become one of Australia’s most influential contemporary galleries. Founded by Ursula Sullivan and Joanna Strumpf in 2005, Sullivan+Strumpf has spent the past two decades championing ambitious artists and building careers. Since Sydney Contemporary first opened its doors in 2013, the gallery has exhibited at every edition of the Fair, growing alongside it over more than a decade. We spoke with Ursula and Joanna about memorable moments, evolving alongside the Fair, and what keeps bringing them back.
Sullivan+Strumpf has exhibited at every edition of Sydney Contemporary since its launch in 2013. What has sustained that ongoing commitment to the Fair over more than a decade?
The audience is key to us, ever since the first edition. We find that it’s always the audiences who bring the energy and enthusiasm for contemporary art.
Gregory Hodge, Suspension Painting, 2019. Installation view, Installation Contemporary at Sydney Contemporary 2019. Photography by Mark Pokorny.
Gregory Hodge, Suspension Painting, 2019. Installation view, Installation Contemporary at Sydney Contemporary 2019. Photography by Mark Pokorny.As one of Australasia’s leading contemporary galleries, how has your approach to the Fair evolved as Sydney Contemporary itself has grown in scale, ambition, and international reach?
We give the fair a lot of thought, we want bring a unique viewpoint – something that hasn’t been seen before, works that are inspiring and interesting.
Alex Seton, Winners Are Grinners (Yet Another Dictator), 2017-2019. Installation view, Installation Contemporary at Sydney Contemporary 2019. Photography by Mark Pokorny.
Alex Seton, Winners Are Grinners (Yet Another Dictator), 2017-2019. Installation view, Installation Contemporary at Sydney Contemporary 2019. Photography by Mark Pokorny.Looking back to those early editions in 2013, how different did the energy of the Fair feel then compared to the environment you’re presenting in today?
The fair and its audience have grown together, maturing with experience and expanding in viewpoint. Our first booth for Sydney Contemporary was quite unusual for us, we installed one massive painting by Sydney Ball from the 1970s at the front, with a large stockroom behind it. Safe to say, it was our most minimal presentation ever. Now we see the fair as an opportunity to present works by a really wide range of our artists, a kind of extension of the gallery itself.
Ursula Sullivan and Joanna Strumpf at Sydney Contemporary, 2019
Your program spans major Australian contemporary artists across generations and mediums. How do you approach distilling such a broad and dynamic roster into a single booth presentation each year?
Of course, you can’t show everyone or do everything. For us, it’s about ensuring we’re presenting something fresh and unexpected, alongside local favourites.
Across more than ten years of participation, are there particular Sydney Contemporary presentations or artist moments that stand out as especially defining for the gallery?
While there are too many great moments to mention, one that stands out was the 2017 edition, when we presented a solo booth of works by Tony Albert. It remains one of the busiest fairs in our gallery’s history — the presentation sold out within a couple of hours of the vernissage, and we remember being pulled in opposite directions by usually very composed collectors! The same happened with Alex Seton’s presentation of his puffer jacket series in 2024.
We have had some impressive works in Installation Contemporary over the years, including Ramesh, Alex Seton, Lindy Lee, Michael Lindeman, Sanne Mestrom, Greg Hodge, just to name a few. Our collaboration with David Flack in 2019 was incredible, resulting in the best booth shots ever!
Sydney Contemporary, booth designed in collaboration with Flack Studio, 2019. Installation view, Carriageworks, Sydney Contemporary. Photography courtesy of Sydney Contemporary.
As Sydney Contemporary marks its 10th edition, how do you see its role in shaping the Australasian contemporary art landscape going forward?
The fair just keeps getting bigger and better – bring on the next 10 years!
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Sydney Contemporary returns to Carriageworks from 3 – 6 September. Tickets are on sale now.
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