MANIFEST DESTINY is an epic photographic and immersive study by acclaimed South Australian artist Alex Frayne, exploring the fractured psyche of modern America. Shot almost entirely on analogue film over three years and across nine states, Frayne’s lens focuses on the fringes of the West, Deep South, and Bible Belt—places where the mythology of America meets its stark realities. From the dreamers of Venice Beach to the haunted plains of Nevada and the forgotten towns of the Ozarks, MANIFEST DESTINY offers a raw, outsider portrait of a nation in crisis. 

Interrogating the idea of empire and its decline, MANIFEST DESTINY invites Australian audiences to confront the complexities of a country that has shaped our collective imagination through Hollywood movies, music, and cultural icons. Frayne’s images move beyond binaries of ’good’ and ’bad’, revealing beauty, decay, and contradiction in equal measure. Themes of faith, hope, guns, dreams, poverty, solitude, and power ripple through the work — each frame a meditation on what America was, is, and might become.  

Presented in collaboration with digital artist Capital Waste and featuring an original vapourwave-inspired score by Donnie Sloan (Empire of the Sun), the exhibition takes visitors on a multi-sensory journey across vast still imagery to full immersion, providing an intimate insight into Alex Frayne’s unique creative process. From ILA’s Gallery to its Immersive Studio, audiences enter a retro American motel into an expansive LED environment where Frayne’s photographs come alive through moving image, sound, and light. MANIFEST DESTINY premieres as part of the Adelaide Festival 2026, redefining how we see—and feel—the art of photography in the digital age. 

MANIFEST DESTINY runs 28 February to the 15 March 2026.

Presented as part of the Adelaide Festival 2026 program.

Ticket prices
General admission and relaxed sessions
General admission: $30
Concession: $27
School groups and children under 18: $20
Companion cards: $0 (must be pre-booked)
*Booking fees apply

Relaxed sessions will take place on set dates during the season which will include a reduced capacity and permitted re-entry during the session. Tickets for relaxed sessions are available on

• Wednesdays at 11am
• Saturdays at 11am

Companion cards for relaxed sessions must be pre-booked within the ticket purchase process. You can view the accessibility guide here.

School Groups
School group bookings can be registered via this link.

Credits
Alex Frayne – Photographic Artist
Capital Waste (Liam Somerville) – Video Artist & Cinematographer
Donnie Sloan – Musician
Danni Zuvela – Curator
Julianne Pierce – Producer

Presented by

Supported by