The exhibition is the final work of the late photographer Sue Ford, starting with her days as a 17-year-old up-and-coming photographer in the 1960s to a 63-year-old, not long before she died in 2009.

The exhibition, Time Machine, is in two parts - a series of her works from the 1960s and '70s and a 47-part self-portrait series, which documents her life from 1960 to 2006.

The self-portraits were her final project, and she worked closely with MGA director Shaune Lakin on it.

"She was a truly amazing woman and had incredible networks around her," he said.

"There's a bit of sadness around this exhibition for me and Sue's vast network.

"The 47-part self-portrait series is this long, durational series of images that show a woman in her young adulthood ... [through to when] she was 63, when the last photo was taken."

He said the self-portrait series offered a great understanding of Ford's life.

"Sue's work was always about her life.

"She was a first-generation feminist. She felt it was important for women to make art to tell stories that expressed something of who they were."

For Mr Lakin, the exhibition was the chance to work with one of his favourite photographers.

"Not long after I arrived at the gallery Sue approached us with a new body of work - the self-portraits.

"I'd been a huge fan of Sue's for a long time, so I was really excited by the prospect of working with her."

The exhibition is open until June 19.