In 2019 SODEISHA: connected to Australia celebrates this significant collection with the inclusion of ten contemporary ceramic artists from Australia and Japan featuring alongside the Gallery's Sodeisha collection to form a dialogue between this important post war avant-garde movement and contemporary ceramic arts practice today. 

A highlight of the exhibition is invited ceramic artist Satoru Hoshino, an original member of the Sodeisha group and exhibitor in the 1979 exhibition who will travel to Newcastle to create a major installation and conduct a series of masterclasses providing a living link to the past and present of the Sodeisha group both in Japan and Australia. “How fantastic that the Dobell Foundation could support the Newcastle Art Gallery in mounting such a significant presentation and all its public programs.  



"What a pleasure it was to attend the opening of the Sodeisha: Avant-Garde Japanese Ceramics exhibition in Newcastle. There was a sense of excitement in the crowd of approximately 400 people at the gallery. They were eager to view the outstanding modern Japanese ceramics collection and welcome the visiting Japanese and Australian artists." 

- Brian Ladd, Director Brett Whiteley Foundation and former President of the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales.

Also supported by the 2017 Dobell Exhibition Grant, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery presented Board, from 9 December 2017 – 4 February 2018. 

Board celebrated work by artists who mine board-based subcultures (specifically surfing and skateboarding) for their dynamic imagery and performance potential as well as metaphysical and narrative associations. The powerful line-up of artists included Vernon Ah Kee, Shaun Gladwell, Nancy Kilgour, Brett McMahon, Tracey Moffatt, Nell, John Turier, Gerry Wedd, Jud Wimhurst, John Witzig and Anne Zahalka.

The inaugural Dobell Exhibition Grant was awarded to Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest for their exhibition Gravity (and Wonder) presented from 3 September – 27 November 2016. Curated by Dr Lee-Anne Hall and Katie Dyer, the exhibition brought together rare scientific instruments and inventions, specialist objects and archival material from the collection of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences alongside the work of contemporary artists who examine gravity as phenomena and effect, mass and attraction, motion and acceleration, time and space and ultimately transcendence