Modern Times

It is with mixed emotions that Joel and I, the founders of Modern Times, announce the closure of our beautiful Smith St showroom, marking the end of 13 memorable years of trading.

From the continued fallout of covid, to changes in the market, and Joel and I wanting to go in new directions, we have made the very difficult decision to wrap up Modern Times as we know it.

Thank you to our beautiful clients for all your amazing support over the years. We hope that each of your art and design pieces from Modern Times are used and admired for many more years to come.

We would also like to express our appreciation to all our suppliers, collaborators and team members from over the years. Modern Times has always been a collaborative expression of everyone involved and we are proud of what we’ve achieved - sharing exciting vintage design, hosting numerous successful exhibitions, and creating a business that was as unique as the products itself.

New ventures are on the horizon in 2024, so watch this space.

Continue to shop our online store for some last bargains on vintage and prints.

New sculptural work from is available online and in the gallery! Vogelpoel's work reflects her passion for the process of bringing an idea to life through manipulating and building pieces that harness the energy and fluidity of nature with a mid-century twist. The characteristic raw finish of her work makes them highly tactile, recalling the textures of sandstone cliffs or ancient artifacts.
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​Shop in-store or via New Arrivals online now!

Come along to the gallery this Thursday 25 May from 6-8pm to celebrate our current exhibition, Nahnan, by exhibition!
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And we're honoured to be joined by Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Diane Kerr of Wurundjeri Corporation who will be leading Welcome to Country and by Louise Hamby who worked with Injalak Arts on the ‘Twined Together’ project. ⁠
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Of course, we'll be here with and . We hope to see you there!⁠
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Images by .studio.⁠
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This event is part of Melbourne Design Week 2023, an initiative of the Victorian Government in collaboration with .

Opening today! Subtle Realms, a divine collection of works by Jennifer Tarry-Smith, Ria Green and Hilary Green ✨⁠
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And please join us from 6-8pm next Thursday 27 April with the artists and our trusty partners for a bubbles - and don't forget to BYO drinking vessel!⁠

View the collection now online via the link below.

https://moderntimes.com.au/blogs/exhibitions/exhibition-subtle-realms-by-hilary-green-ria-green-and-jennifer-tarry-smith

"My work attempts to capture human intuition; a capsule of moments in time, decisions and reactions, resulting in a unified body of work," - Jennifer Tarry-Smith⁠
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"When sculpting clay, my hands think about the way the wind or water would move to run off stone and shape it. I really found it beautiful to imagine my fingertips eroding the clay like water over rock," - Hilary Green
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"I hope to create artworks that capture the ephemeral moments of wonderment found in the natural world through the process of painting, with a particular focus on colour and light," - Ria Green
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Discover the creative process behind the works that make up the divine Subtle Realms exhibition, opening in the gallery this Thursday 20 April. Follow the link below!

https://moderntimes.com.au/blogs/journal/in-conversation-hilary-green-ria-green-and-jennifer-tarry-smith

🚨 Sales for Ingkerr-enheng (pronounced ing-gudda-gun) by .artists are now officially open!

We're couldn't be more honoured to share works from First Nations artists Maria Napanggka Dickenson, Martha Nakamarra Poulson, Nancy Nungarrayi Long, Rachel Nangala Rankine, Sarah Holmes Nabangardi, and Taylor Thompson with this collaboration.

This collection of works will be exhibiting in our gallery until 4 April.

Meet the Artists of 'Ingkerr-enheng' | Martha Poulson Nakamarra is a Warlpiri lady, born and growing up in Yuendumu before moving to Ali Curung with her young family. She has fond memories of being young in Yuendumu and being taken out bush by “the old people” who taught them the ways of the traditional life that they had grown up living, including hunting, collecting bush fruits and bush medicine and sharing Jukurrpa (dreaming). Her practice draws on experiences going out bush, depicting landscapes which span between Yuendumu and Ali Curung. Martha has developed her own unique style, painting with a loose hand and psychedelic tendency. ⁠

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Martha will be showcasing her work at Modern Times as part of 'Ingkerr-enheng', an upcoming show featuring emerging artists from Arlpwe Arts and Culture Centre, NT. Head to the Journal to find out more about Martha and the other artists involved in upcoming exhibition!⁠

https://www.moderntimes.com.au/journal/meet-the-artists-arlpwe-arts-and-culture-centre/

Meet the Artists of 'Ingkerr-enheng' | Taylor Thompson is a Kaytetye and Alyawarr woman who was born in Alice Springs. She lives with her family at Murray Downs, a station 33km East of Ali Curung and visits Arlpwe to paint when she is in Ali Curung visiting family. She is new to painting, though has a natural patience and precision in her work. She predominantly depicts the leaves of bush flowers and bush medicines that are found around Ali Curung and Murray Downs.⁠
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Taylor will be showcasing her work at Modern Times as part of 'Ingkerr-enheng', an upcoming show featuring emerging artists from Arlpwe Arts and Culture Centre, NT. Head to the Journal to find out more about Taylor and the other artists involved in upcoming exhibition!⁠

https://www.moderntimes.com.au/journal/meet-the-artists-arlpwe-arts-and-culture-centre/

The team is abuzz with excitement this week with a new ceramicist gracing the MT community - a very warm welcome to The Soda Fountain (aka Samantha McIntyre)!⁠
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A name already familiar to many, her perfectly imperfect vessels are instantly recognisable by the characteristic organic forms paired with black and white checks. The process of making her ceramic objects is a therapeutic act, helping her to reconnect with happy memories in her childhood playing chess with her grandfather. Explore the full range online!

https://www.moderntimes.com.au/shop/artist/the-soda-fountain/

20% off all vintage furniture and lighting continues this weekend!⁠
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Find iconic design by the likes of Borge Mogensen, Hans Wegner and more. Simply add your chosen item (/items) to cart and use code VINTAGE20 at checkout - or come into the showroom and chat to our sales team who will be more than happy to help you find the perfect piece.

https://www.moderntimes.com.au/shop/furniture

Meet the Artists of 'Ingkerr-enheng' | Nancy Long Nungarray is a Kaytetye and Warlpiri woman. Nancy is a guardian of the budgerigar dreaming, “those green birds, green and yellow, out west of Wilowra, my Country.” Her early paintings depicted the budgerigar dreaming, until her father passed. Today, Nancy paints bush medicine, bush seeds and bush tucker. Recently, Nancy has been using soft, hazy brushstrokes to represent the scattered leaves of medicine plants and flowers. ⁠
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Nancy will be showcasing her work at Modern Times as part of 'Ingkerr-enheng', an upcoming show featuring emerging artists from Arlpwe Arts and Culture Centre, NT. Head to the Journal to find out more about Nancy and the other artists involved in upcoming exhibition!⁠

https://www.moderntimes.com.au/journal/meet-the-artists-arlpwe-arts-and-culture-centre/

"I like to experience the ocean and the land in tactile, hands-on ways... I am deeply fascinated by the textures, rhythms, and shapes in water, as well as by its fluidity, transparency, and sometimes blurred edgeless view. It’s like entering another secret world that breaks down barriers and leads to insight and imagination." - Brigita La.⁠
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Latest arrivals from La. Spontaneous, impulsive and raw; the colours and brushstrokes dance across the canvas to create abstract landscapes that we are utterly captivated by. Shop online now via New Arrivals.

https://www.moderntimes.com.au/new-arrivals/

Meet the Artists of 'Ingkerr-enheng' | Rachel Rankine Nagala belongs to the Kaytetye and Anmatjere language groups. Rachel started painting in the '80s in Ali Curung at the Women’s Centre, and depicts landscapes and native flora in both abstract and representational styles. She learned to paint by watching her mum; “I used to come along (to the Women’s Centre) and watch all the old ladies painting, but I watched her most and that’s how I got it from her.”⁠
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Rachel will be showcasing her work at Modern Times as part of 'Ingkerr-enheng', an upcoming show featuring emerging artists from Arlpwe Arts and Culture Centre, NT. Head to the Journal to find out more about Rachel and the other artists involved in upcoming exhibition!⁠

https://www.moderntimes.com.au/journal/meet-the-artists-arlpwe-arts-and-culture-centre/

Continuing our mission to make room for a new container of vintage European furniture soon to arrive, we're offering 20% off all vintage furniture and lighting for two weeks only!*⁠
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Simply add your chosen item (/items) to cart and use code VINTAGE20 at checkout - or come into the showroom and chat to our sales team who will be more than happy to help.⁠
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Not sure where to start? Warm up by swiping to see our top picks then explore the selection online.

https://www.moderntimes.com.au/shop/furniture/

Doing good, while looking good - Crumble, the design duo Ailish Dempsey and Rach Davey, utilises 100% recycled post-consumer plastic waste (think shampoo and conditioner bottles, cleaning products etc) to create versatile forms with a myriad of uses in the home.⁠
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Explore the environmentally sustainable Crumble range online in New Arrivals now!

Meet the Artists of 'Ingkerr-enheng' | Maria Dickenson Napanangka is a Kaytetye and Alyawarr woman who has grown up her whole life in Ali Curung, sans a small stint in Alice Springs during her high school years. Maria has always been drawn to landscape painting, predominantly depicting places around Ali Curung, Ampilatwatja and her Mother’s country, Hatches Creek. As her career progresses, Maria’s depictions of landscapes have become more abstract and her most recent paintings feature predominantly black and white.⁠
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Maria will be showcasing her work at Modern Times as part of 'Ingkerr-enheng', an upcoming show featuring emerging artists from Arlpwe Arts and Culture Centre, NT. Head to the Journal to find out more about Maria and the other artists involved in upcoming exhibition!

We’re so thrilled to share this grand new arrival with you - it's truly what storage dreams are made of. This epic modular shelving unit was designed by legendary duo Cees Braakman and Pastoe.⁠
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Designed for total flexibility and customisation – the cupboards and teak shelves can be adjusted and placed in your desired location. Click through for inspo!⁠
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Characteristic of the origin and era, this piece is designed to enrich people’s lives with the simplicity, functionality and exceptional quality Dutch design is renowned for.⁠ Come in store to view for yourself or shop below:

https://www.moderntimes.com.au/shop/storage-2/japanese-series-system-cabinet-by-cees-braakman-for-pastoe-1960s-the-netherlands/

Modern Times updated their business hours.

Sit back and take pleasure in the ease and comfort of a classic example of Danish design by the renowned Poul Volther.⁠
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The beautifully restored J61 Dining Chairs feature a refined oak frame, with a distinct and comfortable high ladder back paired with super luxe wool upholstery. These chairs are available only as a set of four and can be shopped online in New Arrivals!

Arlpwe Arts and Culture Centre and Modern Times are delighted to present Ingkerr-enheng (pronounced ing-gudda-gun), an exhibition showcasing the next generation of emerging Indigenous artists from Ali Curung, a Northern Territory community, and surrounds.⁠
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Ingkerr-enheng, translated to English as ‘all together’, celebrates a collective of First Nations women - Maria Napanggka Dickenson, Martha Nakamarra Poulson, Nancy Nungarrayi Long, Rachel Nangala Rankine, Sarah Holmes Nabangardi, and Taylor Thompson - who have come together to present a series of their work inspired by the country that surrounds them.⁠
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We can't wait to exhibit these artworks in our gallery from the 23 March. Find out more via our Exhibition page below, and stay tuned for more information coming soon!
https://www.moderntimes.com.au/exhibition/ingkerr-enheng-by-arlpwe-art-and-culture-centre/

There is no doubt we are proud of our archival quality art prints. But, what does ‘archival print’ actually mean?⁠
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Our MT Editions are printed on cotton rag paper using pigment inks prints to create the highest quality fine art reproductions. As ‘archival’ suggests, this method of printing creates a museum-quality product designed for pristine longevity.⁠
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So, with this in mind MT Editions offer brilliant value to either kickstart or grow your art collection (they start at $110). Head online to our Journal to find more or if you don’t know where to start – get in touch or shop below!

https://www.moderntimes.com.au/shop/art/mt-editions-and-giclee-prints/

New sculptural work from Jan Vogelpoel is available online now and boy, is it good! These pieces are inspired by sycamore seed pods, giving the collection a primal quality that speaks to the source of life and connectivity. New beginnings are highlighted through the seeming softness, yet solidity of the forms - this collection is a must-see!⁠
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​Explore in store and online in New Arrivals.

https://www.moderntimes.com.au/shop/artist/jan-vogelpoel/

Join emerging artist Joshua Searle and co-director Amy Malin for a bubbles after work tonight from 5:30pm, for an ‘In Conversation’ and learn about the incredible journey Searle has been on since he set about being an artist only 2 short years ago!⁠
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From hand-building a studio on the Peninsula, exhibiting in group and solo exhibitions, and collaborating with designers, residencies and talks - it's been a period of intense creativity for this young artist. Come along and be undoubtedly inspired by Searles's incredible energy and insight.⁠
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And bonus - it’s free and there will be drinks, thanks to . RSVP via Eventbrite and we’ll make sure to have a chair for you - follow the link below!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-conversation-with-joshua-searle-tickets-546663755007

PLAY, a new body of work charged with socio-political commentary rendered in bright colour and bold lines by emerging Victorian artist Joshua Searle officially opened in our gallery today!⁠
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Bringing new life to otherwise discarded objects, as well as large canvases, Searle’s work is unmissable in both scale and its arresting content.⁠
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And we're particularly excited to invite you to join us for the free In Conversation Talk on Tuesday 21 February, where Searle will expand on his practice and the work presented in PLAY - book your seat now via the link below! Sponsored by our friends at Blackhearts and Sparrows.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-conversation-with-joshua-searle-tickets-546663755007