The 20 Best Art Galleries in Melbourne for a Hit of Culture

Melbourne’s the undisputed art capital of Australia – we need somewhere to go when it inevitably starts raining, after all. Our oldest public gallery was opened in the 1800s, and we’ve got exciting new venues popping up all the time.

Across dozens of spaces you’ll find priceless classical art, blockbuster international exhibitions, thought-provoking contemporary works plus sculpture, new media, textiles and more.

Whether you’re a casual enthusiast or an art history major, there’s always something new to explore. So, get out there and dive headlong into the best art galleries in Melbourne. 

NGV International

Make no mistake, The National Gallery of Victoria is the mother of Melbourne’s arts and culture landscape. As Australia’s oldest public art gallery, it’s built up a collection with both breadth and depth, spanning everything from irreplaceable classical paintings to contemporary acquisitions from modern masters. In short, this is the place to see your Picassos and Rembrandts. Enter from the famous water wall and make your way around four floors of galleries. You could easily spend an entire day here, and even enjoy a high tea break at the building’s atmospheric Tea Room.

Currently showing: NGV Triennial, a major exhibition of new art, design and architecture that offers an arresting view of the world at this time.

180 St Kilda Road, Southbank

Museum of Australian Photography

The Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh), formerly Monash Gallery of Art, is Australia’s premier photography hub, championing local artists and engaging audiences with high-calibre exhibitions, prizes, and programs. Annually, MAPh hosts four major exhibitions, including the prestigious William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize and the Wai Tang Commissioning Award. Innovative public programs, artist talks, guided tours, and concerts complement these exhibitions.

Designed by renowned architect Harry Seidler, the MAPh building is set in landscaped grounds with a sculpture park and views of the Dandenong Ranges, making it a cultural landmark in the area.

860 Ferntree Gully Road, Wheelers Hill

Collingwood Yards 

Collingwood Yards is a vibrant and mulifaceted cultural precinct located on the site of the former Collingwood Technical School in Melbourne. Spanning over 6500 square meters, it provides a permanent and affordable home for a diverse array of artists and independent arts organisations.

The not-for-profit site features three buildings and a central courtyard, offering spaces for music, visual arts, performance, digital media, and creative industries.

Collingwood Yards is a thriving hub that also includes retail and hospitality operators, making it a key destination for cultural and community activities in Melbourne's inner city.

See what's on here

35 Johnston Street, Collingwood

Craft Victoria

Craft Victoria is a design-lover must. Tucked away just off Flinders Lane, this is one of the best art galleries in Melbourne to house both contemporary craft and design. The gallery showcases an impressive array of works from Australian artists, with emphasis on innovation and impeccable craftsmanship.

Visitors can explore exhibitions featuring ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and more, each piece reflecting the diverse talents of local artisans. Craft Victoria not only offers a visual feast for art lovers but also serves as a hub for workshops and events, fostering a vibrant community of creators.

Watson Place, Melbourne 

Heide Museum of Modern Art

It’s well worth the drive out to quiet Bulleen to see this flourishing testament to modern art. Famed art patrons John and Sunday Reed purchased the former dairy farm in 1934 and turned it into what it still remains as today: a haven for free-spirited artists. That's right, the Reed's have taken the likes of Sidney Nolan, Joy Hester and many more under its wing.

Heide Museum of Modern Art is home to a vast permanent collection hosted across three buildings, plus a sculpture park and 15 acres of manicured gardens. Enjoy a lunch in the newly refined onsite cafe after a morning exploring the gorgeous galleries and grounds. 

7 Templestowe Road, Bulleen

LUME Melbourne

Step inside art at a jaw-dropping scale at the world’s largest digital art gallery. Ranking among the most-loved and most-visited attractions in Melbourne, THE LUME immerses visitors of all ages in art, wellness (hello, yoga classes), dining and more like never before. One of the more unmissable art galleries in Melbourne - and one which we enjoy going back to time and time again. 

5 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf 

Gertrude Contemporary

Head to Gertrude Contemporary for art that’s new, thought-provoking adventurous. Both a gallery and an educational studio, the programs and residencies hosted here have shaped the careers of countless contemporary artists. Since the 80, they’ve offered space for emerging artists to display exciting new work across every medium, giving visitors an intriguing insight into the creative development of artists.

21-31 High Street, Preston 

Australian Centre for Contemporary Art

The geometric red-rust structure that houses ACCA is one of the most recognisable buildings in Melbourne. What’s inside is just as striking – multiple galleries of daring contemporary art across every medium imaginable, from sound and sculpture to performance and painting. A rotating schedule of exhibitions means that there’s always something new to see, not to mention regular talks, lectures and educational programs for art enthusiasts.

111 Sturt Street, Southbank 

NGV Ian Potter Centre

While the main building down the road gets most of the attention, the NGV’s offshoot dedicated exclusively to Australian art is just as worthy of your time. Housed within a stunning glass matrix in Fed Square are over 20 galleries presenting the history of Australian art. There’s a suite of galleries devoted to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, plus works from the colonial period and Heidelberg School through to contemporary photography, print and fashion textiles. You’re sure to come out with a greater appreciation of our domestic art landscape.

Flinders Street & Russell Street, Melbourne

Buxton Contemporary

Buxton Contemporary is the result of a landmark gift from renowned art collector Michael Buxton, who in 2014 donated 350 major Australian artworks to form a new gallery. Adjoining the Victorian College of the Arts, the gallery comprises four exhibition galleries plus a huge outdoor screen devoted to moving image art. The gallery’s acquisitions tend to follow a smaller number of artists in depth and over time, building a rich insight into their changing practice. 

Southbank Boulevard & Dodds Street, Southbank  

Centre for Contemporary Photography

Fans of lens-based art will be in heaven at CCP, a not-for-profit exhibition and resource centre devoted to photography. Five gallery spaces weave seamlessly together, showcasing oft-rotating work by emerging and established photographers, across all eras and genres. The fifth space, named the ‘Night Projection Window’ is an illuminated window space that lets onlookers peek in and view works after dark. 

404 George Street, Fitzroy

Linden New Art

As its name suggests, Linden New Art supports brand new contemporary art from mid-career artists. The not-for-profit gallery is housed within a grand Victorian mansion in the heart of St Kilda and rotates exhibitions every eight weeks, making it a place to visit again and again. Next time you head south, why not catch brave, inspiring and thought-provoking works on your way to the beach?

26 Acland Street, St Kilda 

Lyon Housemuseum

This remarkable family home is also one of Australia’s most unique exhibition spaces. Lyon Housemuseum belongs to art patrons Corbett and Yueji Lyon, who open it up for pre-booked tours on select days of the year so that people can enjoy their exquisite private art collection. In 2019 they also opened a completely public gallery showcasing national and international exhibitions. Striking geometric architecture is signature to both spaces, blurring the lines between public and private.

217-219 Cotham Road, Kew

RMIT Gallery

RMIT’s premier gallery is for more than just university students. The exhibition space features a year-round program of distinctive visual art plus new media, design, technology and multidisciplinary practices. Being a university offshoot, you’ll see a lot of innovative work from the emerging artists of tomorrow. 

344 Swanston Street, Melbourne 

Lamington Drive 

We love Lamington Drive, not just for being one of the more unique art galleries in Melbourne, but also for its recognition and continued connection of it's home, Collingwood, to its traditional owners. They remain ever inspired by the historical and contemporary artwork produced by First Nations artists, as a tool for the transformation of cultural knowledge. 

With a name like Lamington Drive, you can expect the art displayed at this brilliant gallery to capturing the true blue essence of Australian life. Originally established as a space to show the work of creative services agency The Jacky Winter Group, the gallery bucks the trend by showcasing commercial artists in a traditional gallery space and welcoming many up-and-coming illustrators and designers. The result is a pretty eclectic schedule of shows, whenever you visit. We can't get enough! 

52 Budd Street, Collingwood 

Incinerator Gallery

Discover a unique artistic experience at Incinerator Gallery, located by the picturesque Maribyrnong River in Moonee Valley. Housed within the historic Essendon Incinerator designed by the office of Walter Burley Griffin, this is a community gallery showcasing an array of inspiring solo and group exhibitions.

The gallery's commitment to fostering a strong sense of community is reflected in their diverse suite of community engagement programs. There's something for everyone - sketch clubs and children's clubs and more - and they're a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded locals to share in the joy of creativity. 

180 Holmes Road, Aberfeldie

Tolarno Galleries 

This sizable, long-standing art gallery in Melbourne spotlights cutting-edge, contemporary art in a variety of media. Tolarno Galleries was established in 1967, and has a rich history of presenting innovative and challenging work and of nurturing artists through their careers.

In the early years, exhibitions by modern masters including Bonnard, Dali, Chagall, Matisse, Picasso, Pissarro, Renoir and Vuillard, were shown alongside new works by Rauschenberg, Johns, Rosenquist, Warhol, LeWitt and Koons. Significant bodies of work have also been shown by the pioneering Australian modernists including Charles Blackman, Arthur Boyd, Joy Hester, Albert Tucker, Patricia Piccinini and Bill Henson. 

Director Jan Minchin, previously Curator of 20th Century Australian Art at the NGV, is especially known for working closely with artists, curators and collectors to support the newest work of both up-and-coming and established artists. This is one of the must-visit art galleries in Melbourne that you might not have known about...until now. 

Level 5, 104 Exhibition Street, Melbourne

Sutton Gallery

Sutton Gallery, located on buzzing and forever bohemian Brunswick Street, is a must-visit for contemporary art enthusiasts in Melbourne. Renowned for its dynamic exhibitions, the gallery showcases a diverse range of works from both emerging and established artists.

Visitors can immerse themselves in a monthly exhibition program, spanning various artistic styles and mediums, from paintings and sculptures to digital installations.

The gallery's commitment to fostering artistic innovation and its vibrant location in the heart of Fitzroy make Sutton Gallery a standout destination for art lovers exploring Melbourne's rich cultural landscape.

254 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Gasworks Art Park

A vibrant arts district that the whole family can enjoy, Gasworks Art Park is unique in its blend of indoor and outdoor arts experiences. A leading cultural precinct in the City of Port Phillip, visitors can explore galleries, enjoy handcrafted jewellery from the Watchman’s Cabin, and sip coffee at the Gasworks Café.

The park features two theatres, workshop rooms, galleries, and heritage buildings perfect for artists and events. It also provides event management, filming, editing, and catering services.

Artists can even apply year-round to various development programs, gaining support and resources to realise their creative visions.

With its vibrant community-based ethos and diverse offerings, Gasworks Arts Park is a top destination for art enthusiasts in Melbourne.

21 Graham Street, Albert Park 

Justin Art House Museum

Justin Art House Museum (JAHM) is one of Melbourne's premier art galleries, founded by passionate collectors Charles and Leah Justin. Their extensive collection, amassed over 40 years, features over 300 works spanning painting, sculpture, photography, and a strong emphasis on digital and video art.

JAHM offers an intimate experience, with exhibitions curated from the Justin Collection. Visitors enjoy guided tours by Charles and Leah, followed by refreshments in their apartment, fostering rich conversations about art and collecting.

Dedicated to cultural diversity, JAHM introduces a unique voice to Melbourne's vibrant visual art scene - and is one of the finest art g

Click here to book a tour 

3 Lumley Court, Prahran

After a visit to one or more of the best art galleries in Melbourne, continue exploring the city’s visual treasures by following our guide to must-see street art.

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