You’d be forgiven for thinking the Gold Coast is only good for beautiful beaches and you might have been right in your perceptions a few years ago, but now, you’d be inherently wrong. Recently, the Coast has exploded with a cultural scene like we’ve never seen before. Art gallery spaces are opening up on the regular and we’re seeing more and more creatives no longer hiding out in their homes but instead showcasing their uber talented work. And we couldn’t be happier about it.
Here are our favourite Gold Coast art galleries.
The HIVE Gallery & Studio
Burleigh
Located in the heart of Burleigh Heads on the corner of Park Avenue, The HIVE Art Gallery is the Gold Coast’s newest creative art space. Offering various workshops, such as Fresco painting, watercolour, still life and film photography to name a few—as well as being a daily studio space for artists—The HIVE is really bringing some much-needed creative vibes to the coastline while also celebrating all the incredible existing talent.
19 Karen Art Gallery
Mermaid Beach
Named after it’s exact address (which is very handy), is a gallery that boasts around 70 Australian and International artists. The gallery focuses on revolving exhibits incorporating numerous styles of art from urban and street art to abstract, surrealism and pop art, all hand-picked by the Gallery Director herself because she won’t hang paintings in her gallery that she wouldn’t hang at her home. Open Tuesday to Saturday, but also available for private viewings, 19 Karen will take you on a journey from the moment you enter.
Level Up Studio + Gallery
Coolangatta
Our newest addition to the art scene is a government initiative and is all about supporting and educating local artists and the community through three different components. Level Up Residency, Level up Gallery and the public programs which include art workshops, artist talks, school holiday workshops, networking events and monthly exhibitions. The residency program is for local artists between 18-25 in which they support and nurture their development in the early stages of their career. How cool is that? One up for Level Up!
The Walls Art Space
Miami
If you’re looking for a Gold Coast art gallery that is seriously thought provoking and pushing the boundaries of art and its mediums, The Walls in Miami is one quirky space that’ll leave you pondering. Run by artists to support artists, and known for their experimental and innovative installations, The Walls hosts a diverse assortment of creatives and their contemporary works on regular rotation.
Gallery One
Southport
Only well established multi award-winning Australian artists are shown at Gallery One as their philosophy is to showcase the best of Australian Investment Art and support artists through their world class exhibitions. If you feel like treating yourself, don’t get the guilts because a piece of art at this calibre is an investment that will continue to appreciate, and make you feel uber-cultured when you put it up in your home. Don’t fret if you don’t know much because they have a fine art consultant on hand that can help you on where to start when you buy your first piece of art.
Dust Temple
Currumbin
A creative hub like no other, Dust Temple stands loud and proud in the industrial centre of Currumbin. A beautiful old warehouse that is home to a popular cafe with incredible pastries, an art gallery, as well as an event space that hosts all sorts, including artists, musicians and poets. They have a number of reoccurring events that are cheap as chips to attend—on the first and third Thursday of every month they hold a life drawing session, an open mic night on the second Thursday and a Poetry Jam on last Thursday of the month. Open every day of the week for a coffee and a browse, we recommend you keep returning to Dust to see what’s new in the hood.
Maverick Hair And Art Space
Coolangatta
A hybrid hair salon, bookstore and art gallery, Maverick is one of the coolest joints on Griffith Street. Sitting pretty upstairs in an industrial style loft space, with timber floors and whitewashed brick walls showcasing local and emerging artist’s wares. Not only do they showcase artworks, they also specialise in art and design books, homewares, ceramics and picture framing. It’s pretty much a one stop shop. They often have local art exhibitions that run for a whole month so be sure to check out their calendar to see what’s coming up.
Home Of The Arts (HOTA)
Surfers Paradise
Recently refurbished and better than ever, HOTA is somewhere you could happily spend all weekend. It’s the largest public regional gallery on the Gold Coast, held nearly 3,000 events in one year and boasts a cinema, cafe, theatre and a new outdoor amphitheatre, meaning there is always something happening here. A lot of the art exhibitions here are free, you just have to RSVP if you want to attend the opening nights. The HOTA Homegrown initiative fosters the collaboration, mentorship and shared ideas between artists, with a special focus on locals. And be sure to check out their long list of events, there’s sure to be something that tickles your fancy.
Inspired to get creative? Try your hand and these ceramic classes or the paint and sip sessions.
Image Credit: Hayley Williamson, Amy Higg and Brooke Darling for Urban List , HOTA