The Gallery of Modern Art was the perfect rainy day activity. From the interactive experiences, to…read morethe moving art installations, it was a captivating and immersive experience. The tickets were fairly reasonable, the workers were kind and welcoming and the selection of art was amazing.

Mostly referred to as the GOMA, this art museum is a great place to learn about different styles…read moreand modes of artistic creation. The facility itself is superb, with multiple floors to view. Also, it has many spaces for quiet reflection or purposeful concentration. FREE! That is right-- this Museum is free so take advantage of its collections. Even just a small amount of time walking through a few of the exhibits can be a wonderful way to take a break.

I never realised Philip Bacon Galleries is one of the posh commercial galleries in Brisbane. I use…read moreto just wander through in my naive, student days because it was a modern air-conditioned building, it had gorgeous art work and the staff liked to talk about their collection a lot in clipped voices with lots of hand gestures. It was just as well I was so naive otherwise I would have been intimidated and then I would never have seen the paintings of Margaret Olley, Garry Shead and Arthur Boyd (Oh what would I give to own a Garry Shead painting!) If you're an art lover too, then this gallery is definitely worth checking out. Don't worry if you can't afford to buy anything. I've always visited commercial galleries as I would public galleries even though I have no intention of buying, but simply because art exists to be admired.

From the owner: Exhibiting many of the country's most celebrated established and contemporary artists.read more

I headed to Jan Murphy Gallery for a "drinks with the artist" evening on a Thursday night. The…read moregallery is open late on a Thursday and if they've got a new exhibition in, they sometimes host an evening similar to this. People are invited to come to the gallery between 5pm and 7pm and to enjoy the works over a drink and to have a chat to the artist. The laid back event was extremely accessible. I walked in and was greeted by a friendly staff member and the smiling faces of around 15 people. I was offered a drink (which I of course accepted) and walked around, taking in the wonderful artwork that surrounded me. The artwork was beautiful. The oil paintings were a mix of still life and landscapes and were exhibited with a great amount of skill. I chatted to the artist, the gallery manager and a couple of other people for the 45 minutes I was there. Having the chance to talk to the painter about his works gave the pieces much more dimension and I was impressed with his process. As I walked around, I brainstormed event ideas, as I know it can be used for private hire if the concept it right. The gallery itself is a beautiful space. It's small, but it's white walls and high ceilings gave me a feeling of being close to the art, something that is often lost in larger galleries.

It's not easy being an art gallery in Brisbane. We unfortunately don't seem to buy enough art…read morewhich is a real shame as there are some amazing local artists here. What that translates to is a fairly transient gallery scene. It takes a real gem to survive for any substantial amount of time - and one of those gems is Jan Murphy. Her gallery has been in it's Brunswick St location since the early / mid 90's and it has survived due to its clever exhibition mix of cutting edge, cool and classic. No matter what's on show there's always something beautiful, something kooky and something thought provoking - so essentially something for everyone.

As an ardent lover of Independent retailers and galleries,…read moreplaces like Neo Gallery never cease to inspire. Established in the early 2000's, I've walked past this gallery/ exhibition space in the valley on many occasions and always try and get a good peep in when I have the time. With exhibitions changing monthly, patrons are spoiled for choice with the plethora of modern australian and indigenous art on hand. Open for a limited amount of time during the week it may be hard to to get the timing right to visit, but if you have an afternoon free I highly recommend sussing this place out.

If anyone is stuck on a Christmas present idea and have a few hundred dollars spare, go directly to…read moreWoolloongabba art gallery and purchase one of the charming sculptural cockatoo or owl pieces by Thomas Munkanome. As words can't possibly describe how charming these bark sculptures are, take a look at the online exhibition through this link http://www.wag.com.au/exhib/2011/TiwiDesign/LifeSpiritBreath/works.html Usually, I hate artwork which rehashes Australian landscape - sculptures of goannas chiselled out of wood, pigs made of fused metal and beachscape paintings of Noosa and the Gold Coast. This is usually the stuff I find at tourist galleries. Unlike these tourist-aimed enterprises, Woolloongabba Art Gallery is a contemporary, commercial gallery for both beginner and professional collectors. Their latest exhibition 'Life, Spirit and Breath' is a contemporary show featuring many artists who uses Tiwi designs in their works. Munkanome's bark sculptures are only a part of an excellent exhibition of Tiwi fabrics, sculptures and paintings. Woolloongabba art gallery run different exhibitions throughout the year - mostly of contemporary Indigenous art though they do represent other styles as well. Check out their website for past and future exhibitions.

I love chancing upon a small gallery as they often offer…read moreunexpected and hidden art gems. Woolloongabba art gallery is no exception to this rule, located very handily on Stanley St this place is full of some seriously cool wares. Supporting both established and emerging artists, you'll be greeted with many diverse contemporary and indigenous art works. With most of them up for grabs as well, these would make great gift ideas for loved ones. (You'd have to love them a lot given the price of good art lately.) Small but quaint, This is well worth a pop-in when in the Woolloongabba area.

Situated on the downward stretch of Musgrave Road that heads to the city, Red Hill Gallery is often…read moremissed by those travelling by car. There is nowhere to pull over and stop in. It's a shame too, because it really is a nice gallery with some very interesting work inside. It appears that Red Hill Gallery exhibits different artist's work at the same time. The gallery transforms as you travel through it. Currently, there are some beautiful abstract oil landscape paintings there, as well as some flamboyant glass work. There are two rooms of exhibitions with art for sale. It's a lovely space showing some great art. It's just unfortunate that it's not in a better location where it would be able to get more pedestrians passing by.

This little gallery is a real gem in New Farm, hard to spot…read morebut it is worth a definite visit. Suzanne O'Connell gallery deals with gorgeous indigenous artworks. The boss lady (and namesake) Suzanne is a respected art consultant and dealer who sources art works from all around aboriginal communities in Australia. The space is small but intimate. The cool white walls compliment and showcase the diverse, rich and vibrant pieces beautifully. With most of the pieces up for grabs this place is worth a definite visit to fill that blank wall in your house or as a unique gift.

From the owner: Discover the diversity and richness of this unique art form that is Australian Indigenous Art.read more

Upon hearing the sad news that both Nine Lives and Neo gallery…read moreare set to close their doors, it seems that small galleries like Red Sea are left holding the fort. It's central location makes finding this quaint gallery a breeze and if the collections are anything to go buy, these guys are here for the long haul. What I always found great about these guys is the fact they represent such a diverse range of Asian and international artists. With great artworks from the likes of Katrina Read, Gnana, Bevil, Nellie Crawford and more, Patrons here are really spoiled for choice. If you are a business I highly recommend checking this place out, the rooms are clean modern and provide a perfect backdrop for your next function or opening. With its generous trading hours and easy location, This gallery is a worthwhile stop when Valleyside.

I was delighted when I found Red Sea Gallery's collection of Vietnamese art nestled amongst the…read morecommercial galleries of New Farm. I wish I could afford some of their pieces but it's just as important to be an admirer of art as a patron (or so I tell myself). Unfortunately, on my last visit most of the Vietnamese art were replaced with Australian artists. Their works were still modern, surreal and whimsical but I missed the Asian influence of this gallery. The curator explained that there just wasn't enough market to sustain the Asian artists in Brisbane and it was a case of meeting the market or closing shop. Fair enough, I suppose. This gallery is still one to check out for collectors and art lovers alike. It has a fresher feel than either Jan Murphy or Philip Bacon, with some of the artworks exuding a whimsical, illustrative feel. This gallery is also for hire for corporate events and parties. I'm yet to work at an office where the boss books a gallery space for a Christmas party. I still live in hope that it will happen soon.

I don't get to Edwina's gallery often enough. Often I have to live vicariously through her…read moremail-outs of current exhibitions, but when I do visit I am always impressed by the quality of the works, Edwina's eye for talented artists who are both inspiring and collectible, and the charm of the gallery. I'm always warmly welcomed by Edwina and that keeps me coming back. I would love to fill my place with works purchased from Edwina Corlette Gallery!

Brunswick Street is a fantastic place to take yourself on an art date to if you want to see…read moresomething more than what GOMA and the Queensland Art Gallery have to offer. I always like to end on a good note, and so I walk from the Valley, down into New Farm so that Edwina Corlette Gallery will be the last that I visit. I can't remember a time when I haven't been impressed by the art exhibited in this gallery. The works on the wall never fail to have an effect on me. Most of the time, I leave with soaring feelings of awe. It seems to me that Edwina Corlette chooses to exhibit artists that are technically impressive. This isn't to downplay other elements at work in some of the art exhibited there, but it is to say that all of the artists I've seen exhibited within Corlette's walls are masters at the physical act of creating art, whatever their medium may be. There appears to be a certain celebration of fine craftsmanship in exhibitions here. Edwina Corlette Gallery exhibits a wide range of varied artists, all of them impressive and unique. The exhibitions are always curated beautifully, one part of an exhibition leading into the next as you enter the next room. Do something nice for yourself one day and take a walk down Brunswick Street and make sure you stop off here. You'll leave and look at the world in a slightly different way.