Smashup: Comics x Art

31 October 2026 - 7 March 2027

Gallery 1 |  Free

Comics, zines and other printed graphics have a surprisingly long history, bound with the history of print and mass media. What is surprising is their continued exclusion from the visual arts institution, treated more as oddity rather than art form. Smashup: Comics x Art brings together art inspired by comics, alternative and popular culture, presented side by side with original pieces from artists and cartoonists, focusing on those whose works push the boundaries of media and subvert the expectations we have of what does and doesn’t constitute a work of art.

Smashup: Comics x Art is an exhibition of drawing, print media, and remix media, and artists who cannot be, or refuse to be pigeonholed into one category.

Curated by Jonathan McBurnie and Shanna Muston.

Featured Artists

Brian Apthorp and Stan Woch, Howard Arkley, George Baldessin and Imants Tillers, Josh Bayer, Richard Bell, Gordon Bennett, Godwin Bradbeer, Julio Camerena, Lauren Carter, Gary Chaloner and Gary Martin, Gary Chaloner and Dillon Naylor, Regi Cherini, Noel Counihan, Carolyn Craig, Dean Cross, Karla Dickens, Chris Dolman, Charlie Donaldson, Joakim Drescher, Leah Emery, Filmation studios, Kate Geck, Jacinta Giles, Sam Glanzman, Hyena Hell, Flint Henry and Eduardo Barreto, Dylan Horrocks, Shaky Kane, Peter Kingston, Stewart MacFarlane, Tim McEwen, Shawn McManus and Jim McDermott, Sally Morgan, Don Newton and Alfredo Alcala, Mike Norton and Jonathan Glapion, Eduardo Paolozzi, Tommi Parrish, George Pérez and Al Vey, Jimmy Pike, Nic Plowman, A.T. Pratt, Mark Raats, David Ross and Tim Dzon, Luke Ross and Fabio Laguna, Jackie Ryan, Gareth Sansom, Nicola Scott, Amelia Skelton, Curt Swan and Jack Abel, Herb Trimpe and Dan Green, Jenny Watson, Chris Weston and Gary Erskine, Kaylene Whiskey and Ben Wickham.

Making Space

Kids and families can drop in to RMOA from 9.30am - 3.30pm daily from Saturday 31 October 2026 - Monday 7th March 2027. One of our friendly RMOA staff will be in the space until 12.30pm daily to assist with the activities, however, adults must supervise the children in their care at all times. 

Get creative colouring, drawing, attaching words to speech bubbles and more.

The Smashup: Comics x Art Making Space is generously supported in partnership with Haymans Electrical.