Visiting art galleries and exhibitions is the new trend these days. A number of people have started taking keen interest in expressive brush strokes, abstract ideas and geometric lines on canvas.
Art galleries provide an excellent opportunity to people of similar interests to socialize and discuss about the new trends and the nostalgia in the art forms, and these galleries are known to host some of the biggest art auctions of the modern times. If you are in Australia and want to engage in art, here is a list of galleries you should definitely visit.
Art Gallery of New South Wales
This art gallery in Sydney is among the biggest public galleries in Australia and is the centre of arts in the town. Set up way back in 1871, its colossal structure inspired by the neoclassical Greek design is quite prominent and bound to capture your attention.
Location: Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW Australia +61 2 9225 1700
MONA
Short for Museum of Old and New Art, MONA has been described as “subversive adult Disneyland” by David Walsh and is Australia’s the biggest private art gallery. Its collection includes more than 1,900 artworks and it is among the popular places in Hobart.
Location: 655 Main Road Berriedale Hobart TAS Australia + 61 3 6277 9900
National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria is the oldest and the most visited architectural buildings in Australia. With more than 73,000 artworks, the gallery offers a good mix of the contemporary and older arts. Tom Roberts’ famous artwork “Shearing the Rams” holds the centre of attraction in this gallery.
Location: National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, +61 3 8620 2222
National Portrait Gallery
The idea of the National Portrait Gallery was mooted by Tom Roberts in the early 1900s which finally culminated in 1998. This gallery in Canberra houses portraits of some of the most notable people in the Australian history, like Captain James Cook and Howard Arkley’s Nick Cave are on display.
Location: King Edward Terrace, Parkes ACT Australia +61 2 6102 7000
Art Gallery of South Australia
With a humongous collection of more than 38,000 artworks, the Art Gallery of South Australia is the second largest state gallery in Australia. It was established back in 1881 and is popular for its Indigenous Australian art and Heidelberg School artworks.
Location: North Terrace, Adelaide SA Australia +61 8 8207 7000
Art Gallery of Western Australia
This art gallery in Perth has a special section for the indigenous Western Australian art among its 17,000 large collection. It also has significant pieces of British art and 20th Century Australian Paintings.
Location: Perth Cultural Centre Roe St, Perth WA Australia +61 8 9492 6600
Centre for Contemporary Photography
The only entry in the list exclusively for photo-based artworks, the Centre for Contemporary Photography has 5 exhibition areas along with a Night Projection Window. What started as a non-profit art centre back in the day, currently hosts some of the biggest festivals, art classes, lectures and other events.
Location: Centre for Contemporary Photography, 404 George Street, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia +61 03 9417 1549
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
Known for its vast collection of artworks of the contemporary and budding artists from Australia and overseas, this art gallery was started in 1984 as an artist’s home. With a geometric design, its architecture is as distinctive as the artworks it houses.
Location: 111 Sturt Street Southbank VIC, Australia +61 3 9697 9999
