Read on to find the best Australian art galleries you must visit.
Australia has become a hub for art and culture over the past few decades. Not only is it a melting pot of diversity, but it is also home to some of the most exquisite art in the world, matched only by the likes of Italy, France, the UK, and the US. Here are a few of the best galleries all art lovers need to visit.
Queensland Art Gallery
The QAG is a must-visit gallery for anyone visiting Brisbane. With multiple exhibitions and a few paintings by Pablo Picasso and Richard Godfrey Rivers, the gallery also aims to champion indigenous Australian art.
With so much to see and explore, it is best that you pack a snack and your nicotine prescription, as you won’t be leaving the gallery for several hours.
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
First opened 33 years ago, the MCA is a premier art gallery in the heart of Sydney. It is home to over 4,500 pieces covering all styles of art. In particular, it has several exhibits dedicated to the art of native Australian communities.
You can also find exhibits by Yoko Ono, Pipilotti Rist, famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, and world-famous pop artist Andy Warhol.
Museum of Old & New Art
The MONA gallery, also known as the Museum of Old and New Art, is a relatively young gallery that can be found on the island of Tasmania. It is home to close to 2,000 pieces, all owned by Australian David Walsh, a professional gambler and uber-keen art collector.
The art is spread in non-chronological order and without labels, meaning visitors need to use the museum app to find out more. This also means you never know what you will see next, or which exhibit you are immersing yourself in.
ACMI
The Australian Centre for Moving Images, or ACMI, is Australia’s national museum for screen culture. This includes everything from movies and TV shows to video games, digital culture, and art.
The museum houses over 250,000 different items related to screen culture, meaning there is very little chance you will be able to discover everything it has to offer in one trip. Not to worry, though; it is well worth a second visit.
National Gallery of Victoria
Found in the bustling metropolis of Melbourne, the National Gallery of Victoria, or NGV, is over 160 years old and was first opened in May 1861. This also makes it the oldest art gallery still in operation in the country.
Over 3 million visitors make the trip to the museum each year to experience the vast collection it has on show. Said collection has a large focus on Asian and Australian artists, but you can also find works by greats, such as Rembrandt, Cezanne, Turner, Monet, and Picasso.
Bruno’s Art & Sculpture Garden
If you are looking for something smaller and a bit more unique, you need to head to Victoria and visit Bruno’s Art and Sculpture Garden. This small piece of land is home to a magical collection of sculptures ranging from forest creatures to fairies.
The gorgeous rainforest is dotted with over 120 different sculptures to find and is the perfect place to take the family for a relaxed morning or afternoon outdoors, surrounded by quirky art.
National Gallery of Australia
As one of the largest art galleries in Australia, if you can only visit one, you can’t go wrong with the NGA. Housing almost 170,000 different pieces, there are several exhibits spanning both Australian and international art and artists.
While Australian and native art can be found in abundance, there are several works by famed international artists, including pieces by Picasso, Cezanne, Monet, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and Matisse.
Art Gallery of South Australia
Another gallery that is packed to the rafters with some of the best art Australian and Native artists have to offer is the Art Gallery of South Australia. Opened in 1881, is is another gallery that finds itself as one of the oldest in the country.
The gallery prides itself on its several exhibitions and events focusing on the art of Aboriginal tribes of the area, as well as art created by those of the Torres Strait. Beyond that, you can also find works by the likes of Florence Fuller, Hans Holbein the Younger, J.M.W Turner, John Collier, and John Williams.
Art Gallery of New South Wales
First opened in 1874, the Art Gallery of New South Wales has been welcoming over 1.5 million guests every year for over 150 years. It is no surprise either, as it is home to countless works by Asian, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, and international artists.
Some of the most notable works are by the likes of John Constable, Van Gogh, Monet, Cezanne, Detaille, Ernst Ludwig, and Lord Frederick Leighton.
Chambers of the Black Hand
Finally, the Chambers of the Black Hand is by far one of the most unique galleries in Australia. 900 sculptures can be found underground, carved directly into the sandstone walls, and created with exquisite detail.
There are 26 chambers for you to explore and get lost in, and it is easily one of the best and most immersive art experiences you will ever be a part of.
