The unveiling of the Pallion Garden Terrace marked a milestone moment for Pallion, the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), and the wider arts community. The celebration brought together collaborators, friends, and colleagues for a vibrant evening that featured striking performances from the Brent Street dancers and a dynamic set by Sneaky Sound System.
The official unveiling was led by AGNSW Art Curator Anne Ryan and Pallion CEO Andrew Cochineas, highlighting Pallion’s enduring partnership with the gallery and its commitment to cultivating urban spaces that inspire creativity, connection, and cultural exchange.
Speaking on the significance of the new terrace, AGNSW Director Maude Page said:
“Just as we all cherish memories of specific artworks and museum spaces, we envision the Pallion Garden Terrace becoming a beloved space for visitors and families over generations. It will not only offer a beautiful setting for people to engage with art but also serve as a location for significant outdoor collection works, allowing our collection to be experienced in new ways.”
She went on to note that the terrace is “a testament to the power of philanthropy, and a beautiful addition to our site that enhances the experience for all who visit the Art Gallery of NSW.”
The Pallion Garden Terrace sits along the northern façade of Naala Nura, the gallery’s original building, overlooking the striking new Naala Badu wing designed by SANAA and Architectus. The landscape was conceived by world-renowned architect Kathryn Gustafson of Gustafson Guthrie Nicol, in collaboration with Australian firm Wyer & Co.
This philanthropic gift represents Pallion’s most significant contribution to date, enriching the gallery’s reimagined campus and reaffirming its role as a place where art, nature, and community converge.
Gustafson, whose work includes celebrated projects such as the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in London and Bay East at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, shared her vision for the terrace:
“The Pallion Garden Terrace is to be a flexible and welcoming place for all visitors, where they can connect with the natural and cultural environment in this stunning location overlooking Sydney Harbour.”
At the heart of Gustafson’s work is a vision of designing inclusive, sustainable urban environments deeply connected to both culture and nature. This philosophy aligns with Pallion’s commitment to supporting artists and cultural practitioners, particularly in cities where accessibility and affordability are pressing challenges.
CEO of Pallion, Andrew Cochineas, reflected on the personal significance of this project:
“The Art Gallery of New South Wales has always been an important space for our families. For us, the Pallion Garden Terrace represents the melding of the old and new, standing as it does between the original and new gallery buildings.”
He continued:
“We value art in our everyday lives and are thrilled to support the gallery in what we know will be an intergenerational, legacy philanthropic partnership for the benefit of communities not just in New South Wales but throughout Australia. It is Pallion’s desire that this terrace becomes a dynamic setting for Australian art, and a vital part of a city that continues to nurture creativity and culture.”
The Pallion Garden Terrace is more than a landscaped space—it is a symbol of collaboration, cultural stewardship, and forward-thinking philanthropy. Positioned alongside significant works such as Jonathan Jones’ bíal gwiyúňo, the terrace enriches the gallery’s campus with a new place where art and community meet under the open sky.
As visitors step into this new garden terrace, they are invited not only to experience the Art Gallery of NSW in a new way but also to become part of an evolving legacy that will inspire generations to come.
