Over 40 iconic guitars on loan from the National Guitar Museum are on their way to Australia this year

A major exhibition showcasing the history of the guitar from the dark ages to the present will hit Australia later this year. Medieval to Metal: The Art and Evolution of the Guitar will run from October 12 to February 2 at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, and as the name implies, it covers everything from the ancient oud through to the modern Strat.

At hand will be 40 “iconic” guitars, ranging from a reproduced oud dating back to 3000 BC (!) and a 1600s style baroque guitar, through to 20th century instruments by Fender, Gibson, B.C. Rich, Ovation, Ibanez and much more. All are on loan from the National Guitar Museum, which is based in the United States.

The exhibition is accompanied by paintings, objects and photographs related to the guitar’s history, with the latter featuring work by veteran music photographers including Australia’s Tony Mott and the United States’ Neil Zlozower. 

“With 40 different instruments that show how the guitar has evolved in various forms around the planet, this exhibition explores the guitar’s role at the centre of both pop culture and art, and why it became the definitive musical icon of the last hundred years,’ said National Guitar Museum executive director HP Newquist. 

In addition to the exhibition, the Art Gallery of Ballarat is running a huge events program. Highlights include gigs by Civic, The Hot Lemons, RVG and Pyrex, while Adalita and Henry Wagons will appear in conversation. Classical guitar is covered by an event featuring Slava and Leonard Grigoryan, while National Gallery of Victoria curator Laurie Benson will discuss depictions of the guitar through the history of art.

Tickets to Medieval to Metal start from AU$20 (AU$10 for children; AU$15 for gallery members), while events usually cost more. Check out the Art Gallery of Ballarat website for full details and pricing.