Atong Atem is an Australian–South Sudanese multidisciplinary artist whose work spans painting, photography, textiles, and film. Through these mediums, Atong explores identity, ethics, selfhood and displacement. Her work references the shadows of colonialism and the politics of visibility, drawing from personal experience and broader diasporic narratives.
Whether through richly layered paintings, intimate photographic works (including self-portraitures), or cinematic visual narratives, Atong’s practice is rooted in experimentation and storytelling, using the body, image, and moving picture as sites of inquiry.
Alongside her studio practice, Atong’s background in fashion and media informs a distinct visual language bridging fine art and contemporary culture. This intersectional approach allows her to collaborate fluidly across disciplines, creating work that is both conceptually rigorous and visually arresting.
An alumnus of Sydney University’s College of the Arts and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Atong’s work has been exhibited widely throughout Australia including The National Gallery of Victoria, and The National Portrait Gallery. She has shown in several international exhibitions in institutions including The Tate Modern (London), The Victoria and Albert Museum (London), and The Maritime Museum (Amsterdam).
Atong’s multidisciplinary lens makes her a compelling creative partner for institutions and brands seeking culturally resonant, artist-led collaborations grounded in authenticity, depth, and experimentation.
The NGV will be celebrating the work if Atong Atem in her first ever solo exhibition, Passage: The Art of Atong Atem from 30 October 2026 – 14 June 2027.
Atong lives and works in Naarm/Melbourne.