Get Your Culture Fix: The Best Art Galleries Across Brisbane City

Brisbane’s cultural scene is brimming with emerging talent, and luckily for us, there are plenty of places to find it! There are dozens of galleries across the city, so we’ve narrowed the list down to the best art galleries in Brisbane that not only showcase our local talent but host nationwide and international exhibitions as well.

Whether you’re traipsing through the cultural precinct of South Bank or sticking to the CBD, you’ll discover stunning local art as well as once-in-a-lifetime international exhibitions at these galleries.

Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery Of Modern Art

The household name when it comes to art and culture in Brisbane, QAGOMA, spans two adjacent buildings and houses over 16,000 pieces of art, historical and contemporary alike. With frequent exhibitions, installations and events, QAGOMA offers Brisbane locals the opportunity to truly immerse themselves in the splendour of artists from near and far. Ranking high on our list of the best art galleries in Brisbane, QAGOMA is a must-do for locals and tourists when you’re soaking up some extra culture.

Stanley Place, South Brisbane

Museum Of Brisbane

You could be forgiven for forgetting about this little museum tucked within City Hall, but it’s one not to be missed! The Museum of Brisbane is free to visit and contains a variety of historical photographs, artworks and installations that tell the history of Brisbane and its people. They regularly feature different exhibitions and installations, so you never know what you might discover! The MoB is the best art gallery to visit for local artwork and tidbits of history unique to Brisbane.

Level 3, Brisbane City Hall, 64 Adelaide Street, Brisbane City

Aspire Gallery

Aspire Gallery have their sights set on being the best art gallery in Brisbane to springboard new and emerging artists into the spotlight. They seek to draw attention to the collectable and unattainable art pieces… just before they boom!

If you’re seeking some new art for your home or you simply want to be in the know with any up-and-coming artists, this little Paddington gallery provides a welcoming space for you to visit and be captivated by the artwork within their walls. Aspire can also facilitate the sourcing of pieces or commissions for your home or office, if you’re still searching for that perfect piece.

53 Kennedy Terrace, Paddington

UQ Art Gallery

Speaking to the unique context of its location within the University, the UQ Art Gallery is a place for progressive and contemporary creative inquiry. We rate the UQ Art Gallery as one of the best art galleries in Brisbane due to its ethos of connecting each guest with new ideas and the different forms of learning that can be facilitated through art. They also seek to spark dialogue and debate when it comes to the exhibitions or pieces within their collection, so if you’re feeling the intellectual itch to challenge yourself or broaden your horizons, this is the place to be.

James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre Building, University Drive, St Lucia

Ipswich Art Gallery

Whilst the Ipswich Art Gallery isn’t quite Brisbane-based, it’s worth making a trip out West if you’ve exhausted our list of the best art galleries in Brisbane. This gallery is a visual arts and social history museum that showcases heritage displays alongside an everchanging program of exhibitions, often complemented by events, performances or workshops. With a view to making exhibitions meaningful to all audiences, whilst the Gallery is heritage in nature (having opened in 1951) it provides a modern and accessible approach to art and experience.

D'Arcy Doyle Place, Ipswich

Phillip Bacon Galleries

Opening its doors in 1974, the Phillip Bacon Galleries have become a leading space in Brisbane for local artists. Exhibiting national artists from the twentieth century, there are five spaces within the building to showcase their impressive stockroom collection as well as monthly artist representations. Renowned for the depth of their work and their exhibitions of Australia’s most collectable contemporary artists, this is one of the best art galleries in Brisbane to experience something fresh.

2 Arthur Street, Fortitude Valley

FireWorks Gallery

With a focus on representing indigenous artists, FireWorks gallery hosts a mix of contemporary Australian artworks and installations. Located in a renovated concrete warehouse, this Bowen Hills space has operated as a commercial gallery since 1993. The director of the gallery, Michael Eather, comments that the curatorial theme for the gallery’s exhibition program and its ongoing projects remains the desire to present artworks by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists alongside one another.  One of the best art galleries in Brisbane to visit to experience First Nations art, we highly recommend adding FireWorks to your to-do list this weekend!

9/31 Thompson Street, Bowen Hills

Mitchell Fine Art

Located on Arthur Street, in the hub of Brisbane’s art scene, you’ll find the Mitchell Fine Art Gallery. Showcasing contemporary Australian art as well as Indigenous artists, this gallery also boasts an annual exhibition calendar of high-calibre artworks to delight and inspire your creative and cultural palate. 'The Gallery boasts a stable of some of Australia’s leading Aboriginal and Contemporary artists', says Mike Mitchell, owner of the gallery. 'I am fortunate to be in a business that allows me to continue my passions - art and collecting'. With over 25 years in the art industry, Mitchell Fine Art is one of the best art galleries in Brisbane to visit when exploring fine art for your home or simply to enjoy.

86 Arthur Street, Fortitude Valley

Institute of Modern Art

A household name amongst the Brisbane creative scene, the Institute of Modern Art (IMA) is renowned for its diverse range of exhibitions and events. Housed within the iconic Judith Wright Centre in Brisbane’s progressive Fortitude Valley locale, the IMA is a free public space for all to enjoy and an absolute must-do for any art lover. A no-brainer on our list of the best art galleries in Brisbane, the IMA has celebrated over 40 years of bringing incredible art, experiences and community to our city. It’s a must-do for any Brisbane local or newcomer, so be sure to add it to your to-do list!

Ground Floor, Judith Wright Centre, 420 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley

Artisan

Hosting exhibitions, events, workshops and more, Artisan is a hub for creatives. This not-for-profit venture has been supporting and uplifting local makers and creators since its inception in 1970 and remains integral to Brisbane craftspeople to this day. Artisan also operates as an online and physical marketplace, enabling artists to keep doing what they do best. One of the best art galleries in Brisbane for artist support, Artisan champions the creative community and encourages local makers to keep telling their stories by providing a platform and shopfront for their mediums to be dispersed, enjoyed and admired.

45 King Street, Bowen Hills

Jan Murphy Gallery

If you’re looking to add something very special to your collection, the Jan Murphy Gallery is not to be missed. With over 20 years of experience, this carefully curated gallery offers regular exhibitions and sales of top-tier contemporary Australian art to its patrons. Showcasing established and emerging artists from across the nation, this is one of the best art galleries in Brisbane in which you can surround yourself with beauty and creativity.

486 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley

Red Hill Gallery

Comprising a large catalogue of art from established and emerging artists alike, the Red Hill Gallery hosts monthly exhibitions of realist, impressionist and contemporary paintings. You can expect to browse a mix of mediums, spanning paper, bronze sculpture, ceramics and glass when exploring the little red building that the Gallery has called home from 1986. Red Hill is one of the best art galleries in Brisbane to visit when you’re seeking a smaller social collective of art appreciators.

61 Musgrave Road, Red Hill

Discovered a newfound appreciation for Brisbane's art scene and looking to find some new pieces for your home? Discover more local artists at one of the bustling markets around Brisbane. Or if you’re ready to add some more cultural events to your calendar, check out our event guide to see what’s on in Brisbane.