A well-presented eclectic gallery, displaying work by 19th-century masters, indigenous artists, European settlers and modern painters.
This gallery will really appeal to creative types and art lovers alike, who will enjoy spending time in this stimulating space. It’s packed with paintings, sculptures and even digital art displays. There’s a particular focus on artworks from Australia and the surrounding area. There are many examples of Southeast Asian, Pacific Island and Australian Aboriginal art and there’s also a vast selection of art from the Indian Ocean Rim. But this isn’t all. There are works from all over the world as well.The Art Gallery of Western Australia was founded in 1895, and houses the most significant public art collection in the state. There are many different themed exhibitions held within the gallery. In the Anything Goes section, you can see works from the earliest days of Aboriginal art, right up to the present day. There’s also a selection of challenging conceptual art from the 1970s and 80s. Particular highlights include the spectacular painting by the pioneer native artist Kaapa Tjampitjinpa.The Here and Then gallery focuses on works from the last two centuries. Here you’ll find watercolour landscapes by the revered local artist Sir Hans Heysen as well as sculptures by the world renowned Auguste Rodin. The Many Modernisms section, meanwhile, displays some of the work that documents the social and political changes of the 20th century, while Expanding Fields collates a series of contemporary works on a theme of globalisation, environmental issues and political struggles.Other notable exhibits include abstract paintings produced by the revered Australian photographer Max Pam, and a collection of diverse and often abstract modern paintings. The gallery regularly hosts special exhibitions, which in the past have focused on everything from glass and ceramics through to Van Gogh classics and photographic collections from the New York Museum of Modern Art.The Art Gallery of Western Australia is located in the Perth Cultural Centre which is right in the centre of Perth. The museum is closed on Tuesdays and for major public holidays. There’s also a restaurant and café on site that serves a selection of food and drink.
