An exclusive look at the new Botanica exhibition at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

• The Botanica exhibition opens at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney tomorrow.
• Botanica 2025 is the next instalment of the annual art exhibition.
• The exhibition has a new home this year, moving to The Garden Gallery.
• READ MORE: I visited the Museum of Contemporary Art – is it worth the admission fee?

Visits to the picturesque Royal Botanic Garden Sydney are about to be bolstered by an intriguing new exhibition, all about the deceptive nature of wildlife. A brand-new exhibition opens this weekend and will run through April. Here’s everything you need to know about the display.

Botanica 2025: The Art of Disguise and Deception

What does nature’s masquerade ball look like? That’s what this year’s Botanica exhibition asks visitors to explore. Unmasking the hidden aspects of the natural world that might otherwise be missed, unless you know what you’re looking for.

Acts of camouflage, pageantry and mimicry are present across nature, from the blue-spotted sun orchid that steals native iris’ pollinators to the Venus fly trip, whose jaw-like structure clamps down on unsuspecting insects. These are just some of the examples you’ll find at the exhibition.

The exhibition opens on Saturday, April 5, and will be open from 10am until 4pm.

What types of art are on display?

Artists were encouraged to respond to the brief however they’d like, which has led to varying results. Some have responded scientifically, while others have taken a more artistic approach. Kate Nolan, for example, hides other images within her artworks. See if you can find the dolphin hidden in her tulip painting.

The artists have given us really broad, fantastic interpretations of the theme — we have some really great scientific versions and we also have some more interpretive, imaginative versions.

Co-curator Alissa Cook

There may be some more imaginative responses to the brief, but co-curator Katharine Rogers assures me that all the artworks are botanically accurate, having been checked by an on-site botanist.

The majority of works featured are in traditional botanical style. There are intricate drawings and paintings, that are presented with a magnifying glass so you can examine the tiniest brushstrokes, as well as photographs, lino prints, cyanotype and more.

The best thing about the display is that many of the specimens depicted can actually be found in the surrounding Botanic Gardens. One of the first artworks visitors will see upon entry is Melinda Edstein’s African Sausage Tree, which hangs above a real-life fruit that visitors are encouraged to pick up and hold. A tree can also be found nearby in the garden.

Special events will run alongside the Botanica exhibition

The fun doesn’t end there, as a series of special events will complement the display. The first event will be Botanical Focus: Intensive Workshop with Beverly Allen, led by the famed botanical artist whose work appears in the exhibition. This four-day workshop will teach you the art of botanical painting, learning techniques from drawing to dry brush details through demonstrations and one-on-one instruction.

We will have some curator’s tours, a children’s book reading for really small visitors, for example. Some of those will be ticketed and some of them will be free so it’s worth checking those out too.

Alissa Cook, on the events that will complement the exhibition

There will also be an opportunity to go behind-the-scenes at the Royal Botanic Gardens’ orchid glasshouses. Orchid Walk: The Art of Disguise and Deception will be led by experts Peter and Jane D’Olier who will share their knowledge about these fascinating plants—a third of which use deceptive techniques.

Visit the exhibition and then head outside to continue your floral explorations, or vice versa—stepping into The Garden Gallery offers some respite from the sunshine.

FAQs

Where is Botanica: Disguise and Deception?

The annual exhibition has moved from Lion Gate Lodge to The Garden Gallery for the first time. The Garden Gallery is located on Mrs Macquaries Road, opposite the Art Gallery of NSW.

What special events will take place?

1. Botanica Opening Night – Friday, April 4, 6pm-8pm, $65.

This exclusive ticketed event will be attended by the exhibition curators and the featured artists, so you can mingle and view the works while sipping on a glass of wine and enjoying canapés.

2. Botanical Focus: Intensive Workshop with Beverly Allen – April 8-11, 9:30am-4pm, $600 per person or $580 Foundation & Friends members.

Learn the art of botanical painting with none other than Beverly Allen herself. This intensive four-day course will have you drawing and dry brush detailing under the watchful eye of the botanical artist, who will teach you through demonstrations and individual support.

3. Botanica Curator Exhibition Tour – April 9, 10am-11:30am, $50 Adult or $40 Foundation and Friends members.

Alissa Cook will guide you through the exhibition, offering exclusive insights into the creation of the exhibition. It’s the perfect opportunity to ask about your favourite artist or artwork to find out more about the background and inspiration. You will then tour the Daniel Solander Library, Australia’s oldest botanical research library, led by Librarian Miguel Garcia. To round off the morning, you’ll enjoy a morning tea provided by Foundation & Friend’s Volunteer caterers. 

4. Sami Bayly Book Reading – April 15, 2pm-2:30pm, free.

Designed for curious young minds aged seven and older, bestselling author and illustrator, Sami Bayly, will share her latest book The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals, taking children on an adventure through the extraordinary features of extinct and critically-endangered creatures. Perfect for the kids or grandkids.

How can I buy tickets?

There is no need to purchase tickets to see the exhibition, but donation is recommended. It is a volunteer-managed display and proceeds will support the Education Access Program, helping to provide eligible schools with free educational excursions to all three Botanic Gardens of Sydney.

How do I get to the gallery?

The address is: The Garden Gallery, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney NSW 2000.

By bus: The nearest bus stop is outside the Art Gallery of NSW. It is serviced by route 441. The 200 route from Chatswood to Bondi stops on Macquarie Street during peak hours on weekdays.

By train: St James, Martin Place and Circular Quay stations are all around a 10-minute walk away.

By car: 24-hour meter parking is available on Mrs Macquaries Road and Hospital Road. Parking payments are cashless and can be made by card at the parking meters, or by using the Park’nPay mobile app.

Is entry to the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney free?

Yes! One of Sydney’s gems, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is free to enter so there’s no need to pre-book before visiting. The Royal Botanic Garden is open daily, from 7am to 6pm throughout April. Find more information at botanicgardens.org.au