Melbourne
Art Guide

The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People are the traditional owners of the land on which Naarm (Melbourne) resides. Today the city has a diverse population and is widely regarded as the arts and cultural hub of Australia, offering a vibrant array of contemporary art experiences across the city's leading galleries and museums on both sides of the Yarra River. Established and emerging talents from the region and beyond have based themselves in Victoria state's capital, a haven for artists with its close-knit network, visionary architecture, and diverse population of over five million.

Situated along Exhibition Street is Tolarno Galleries, a long-standing institution known for its focus on contemporary Australian art. With a diverse roster of artists, the gallery exhibits engaging and innovative works that explore social, political, and cultural themes.

On Gertrude Street in Fitzroy is THIS IS NO FANTASY, established in 2010 by Dianne Tanzer and Nicola Stein. The gallery supports a select group of artists recognised for shaping contemporary art discourse in Australia and internationally.

In South Melbourne is 1301SW, representing contemporary and historical Australian and international artists. Founded in 2022 by Brian Butler (1301PE, Los Angeles) and Dominic Feuchs (Starkwhite, Auckland), the gallery's stable of artists includes Billy Apple, Mikala Dwyer, Fiona Pardington, and Rirkrit Tiravanija, among others.

Melbourne's art spaces have hosted significant exhibitions by important Australian and international artists. Solo exhibitions include Ben Quilty's Shadowed (2023) and Brent Harris' Monkey Business (2022), both at Tolarno Galleries. THIS IS NO FANTASY has presented solo exhibitions of artists such as Jo Plank, Neil Haddon, Victoria Reichelt, and Simon Degroot. In South Melbourne, 1301SW has presented solo shows of artists including Alicia Frankovich, Jonny Niesche, and Petra Cortright.

Situated in the heart of Melbourne is the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Australia's oldest and most visited art museum founded in 1861. Its expansive collection of over 76,000 works includes local and international artists. Across two buildings—NGV International and the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia—the gallery hosts major exhibitions and events that celebrate the diversity and evolution of arts and culture. In 2017, the NGV launched the inaugural NGV Triennial.

Nearby in Southbank is the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA), a leading contemporary art institution founded in 1983 that fosters critical thinking and experimentation. Dedicated to contemporary art in all its forms, ACCA presents dynamic exhibitions that explore contemporary issues, push boundaries, and challenge perceptions in a spectacular red-rust building designed by Wood Marsh.

Set amidst picturesque gardens in Bulleen, the Heide Museum of Modern Art is a treasure trove showcasing an impressive collection of modern and contemporary Australian art alongside a sculpture garden. The collection includes works by influential artists such as Sidney Nolan and Albert Tucker.

Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Federation Square is a museum dedicated to the moving image and explores the intersection of art and technology through exhibitions, film screenings, installations, and interactive experiences, offering a unique perspective on the evolving art and media landscape.

Melbourne's strong reputation for art education is evidenced in its university galleries. Launched in 2018 with a major gift from collector Michael Buxton to the University of Melbourne is Buxton Contemporary, a contemporary Australian art museum located on the university's Southbank campus. Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA) is housed at Monash University's Caulfield Campus and presents an engaging programme of contemporary art exhibitions.

Another notable space is Bundoora Homestead Art Centre, which houses a strong exhibition programme outside of the city centre in a heritage-listed building, and the dynamic contemporary non-profit gallery and studio complex Gertrude Contemporary, which supports emerging and mid-career artists. Located in Preston South, with its satellite space Gertrude Glasshouse set in Collingwood, the gallery fosters experimental practices and facilitates engaging dialogues between artists and the wider community.

Since its launch in 2010, Ocula Magazine has interviewed some of Melbourne's most significant artists, gallerists, and curators including Bill Henson Dianne Tanzer, Andy Dinan, Barry Keldoulis, and Natalie King. Ocula Magazine has also published features of Melbourne-based artists and artists who have held major exhibitions in the city such as Patricia Piccinini, Jess Johnson, and Yhonnie Scarce.

Led by Ocula's founder Simon Fisher, Ocula Advisory assists new and established collectors in growing and managing their collections.

With 40+ years of combined experience and extensive relationships with galleries, auction houses, art dealers, and collectors, Ocula Advisory has exceptional knowledge of modern and contemporary art, as well as market trends.

Follow Advisory Picks, Perspectives, and Selections for must-see art in Melbourne and Australia.

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Melbourne has propelled the careers of Australian and international artists, with its renowned galleries and museums providing a global stage for seminal exhibitions. Artists who have recently held major exhibitions in the city include Mithu Sen, Tom Nicholson, Jeremy Deller, Camille Henrot, and Shirin Neshat.

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Melbourne hosts a number of art fairs including the biennial Melbourne Art Fair, with its permanent home now at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre at South Wharf. Started in 1988 by a group of galleries, Melbourne Art Fair continues to support Australasian contemporary artists on a world-class stage.

Located 45 kilometres northeast of central Melbourne, the TarraWarra Museum of Art hosts the TarraWarra Biennial. Inaugurated in 2006, the biennial serves as an experimental curatorial platform for contemporary Australian art.

Inaugurated in 2021 is RISING, Melbourne's major new arts, culture, and food festival, with events, performances, and installations set in locations across the city including at Flinders Street Station and St Paul's Cathedral.

NGV Triennial takes place every three years, spanning NGV's vast spaces to showcase art, design, and architecture at the forefront of contemporary practice from around the world. The inaugural NGV Triennial (2017–2018) attracted nearly 1.3 million visitors, making it the NGV's most-visited exhibition in its 157-year history.

Other notable cultural events include Next Wave, a biennial festival established in 1984 that provides a platform for emerging artists, producers, and curators to share and develop their work. Next Wave has its home base at the Brunswick Mechanics. In the Queen Victoria Gardens is MPavilion, Australia's leading architecture commission. The 2023 MPavilion designer is Japanese architect Tadao Ando.