I like art. I like paintings. I'm not someone who knows a heck of a lot about art, but like the…read moresaying goes, I know what I like. So I often used to have a bit of a look in here when I was passing through. It's a nice little gallery. I haven't been to any major events here, but I've been quite happy to walk through and have a look at new paintings and stuff. The people in there aren't normally snobby or pretentious, unlike some of the clientele. If you've got an interest in art, have a look.

As High St in Armadale is a little bit of a hub for art galleries I had to have a look through a…read morefew and see what style appealed to me most. The Metro Gallery stood out most for me because of the interesting blends of contemporary and Indigenous art. The paintings had an edge unlike many of the other galleries where I like art to ask questions and be challenging. Don't get me wrong a like the pretty paintings as well but as a viewer I feel like I get much more out of the different and more surrealist pieces. I would love to attend an exhibition there sometime to seeing some of the other works done by the talented artists. Worth a look if you like interesting, modern art.

To put it simply, one hundredth gallery is special…read more Not special in a short-school-bus / wears-a-helmet-when-not-engaged-in-dangerous-activities sort of way, but special in a you-won't-find-another-like-it kind of way. Opened not so very long ago in May 2011, one hundredth gallery exhibits artists that other galleries are too scared to go near - the emerging, new, aspiring and unknown. The gallery isn't shy about supporting an enormous array of styles and media, from abstract paintings to expressionist sculptors, experimental film to fictional photographers... this gallery covers it all. Centred around the belief that art doesn't have to be highbrow and can just be about what you enjoy, curator Charles lets you wander at your leisure, can show you pieces that are hidden away and brew you a cup of tea. With the vast majority of pieces for sale under $2,000, it's arguably Melbourne's year-round Affordable Art Fair.

I love the rotating exhibitions at one hundredth gallery. There's always something new to look at,…read morelust over or ponder and there's a big focus on emerging artists and those I'm not too familiar with. The opening nights are a great way to meet fellow art lovers, sip a glass of bubbles and get a chance to buy the art (sometimes at reduced prices) before the public sets their peepers on them. Signing up to the mailing list is the way to go as you then get early notice of new exhibits and opening nights.

When I leave Flinders St. Station I take the middle exit down to the Degraves St. underpass that…read moregoes under Flinders St. The Degraves St. underpass is also known as Campbell's Arcade and was built back in the 1950s. I think that is a more interesting route to take, as there are some trendy little designer shops down there and Platform, a public contemporary art space. Platform consists of a series of glass fronted cabinets set into the walls on both sides of the underpass. There are also the glass cabinets on both side exits up to Flinders St. and a couple more cabinets on the side of the Majorca Building that are also part of this artist run space. There are different exhibitions in these every month and the quality of exhibitions varies considerably depending on the artists. This time I am in luck, as there is a mad creation, a useless machine turning and pumping away in one of the cabinets. I am less impressed by some of the other work in other cabinets but it was worth using the exit to see this one creation.

I love this little passageway to the nook of shops down Degraves Underpass and, though sometimes…read morethe art on show can be a bit iffy, I love the concept of free art for commuters rather than the usual advertising billboards and graffiti chaos. That raises an interesting point: there is never really any graf splattered over the walls down here. I got no problem with graffiti and street art, don't get me wrong, but the Degraves cave is relatively free from it due to the early close times I guess, but also, I reckon, because there's a bit of respect for the space. Where else in the city can you get an eye full of art while walking to your train? There ain't many of this type (i.e. visual art booths) around the place. And this spot is presenting constantly, turning over artist after artist. It's a little gem and should be embraced.

Next door to the Brunswick Town Hall building, this medium-sized art gallery showcases established…read moreand emerging artists with new exhibitions each month. I'm fond of the Counihan Gallery for giving me my first opportunity to see a Ron Mueck larger-than-life sculpture in all its looks-so-real-it-is-spooky glory. That's right - even before the NGV brought a whole gang of Mueck's eerily human sculptures to the masses, the Counihan brought it to Brunswick. The standard of the other works in the same exhibition was evidence of a talented and professional curator with his or her finger on the contemporary art pulse. Lucky are we in Brunswick to have such a high calibre of art dropped in our laps like this. I'm looking forward to their annual Womens Salon exhibition showcasing the creations of women artists, designers and craftworkers from the Moreland area, which opens on 17th November.

A public art gallery, Counihan Gallery is focussed on exhibiting and promoting contemporary…read moreAustralian artists whose work is centred on the discussion or promotion of "innovation and diversity in the visual arts". There's always a mix of established and emerging artists showcased, and there's a few call outs for exhibit proposals from local and interstate artists each year. Like everything else focussed on contemporary art, the art showcased varies considerably in theme, style, form, subject etc. and will inevitably attract a different audience from exhibit to exhibit. The space is designed to maximise flexibility and accommodate a wide range of installations, and cam be quite transformed from one exhibit to the next. Like most public galleries, it's free to view, so it's a good way for the financially challenged art lover to get his or her fix. Some of the art can be quite political, so it'll also appeal to people who like their art challenging or high minded and intellectual.

I would not have known that this little tucked away gallery would have existed if it was not for…read morethe recent Melbourne Fringe Festival. There was a piece of art created by Antonia Goodfellow that sparked people's attention, yet it was so simple once one entered the gallery. The show was called "Consilience - We All Jump Together" comprising of a large scale sculptural item that makes people think long and hard about the natural world, however the construction is synthetic. This piece of art comprised of a rubbery artificial stimulation and super magnification of the micro-universe visualised through the use of recycled materials, with another piece of art. I have lost re-collection of the second piece of art. Two minutes later I leave the gallery as there is nothing else to look at, although who can really complain as it was free to enter and observe. Although simple and dullish looking; no doubt a lot of work was put into this artificial masterpiece. Prior to observing and touring the gallery (albeit briefly) it was great to connect with someone who is so passionate about the arts after all; the attending art assistant who is also a chef. Interesting, although I would not head back in a hurry unless there was more art to see and appreciate.

This inconspicuous gallery on King st is an artist run project space that displays..........art? Is…read moreit art? What is art? The exhibition opening I attended was a series of performances by conceptual artists utilising various mediums including a loud distorted free styling keyboard player and people drawing on each other, I get there's a concept but not so sure I can appreciate it. Obviously each exhibition will vary and opinion is subjective however the vibe of this gallery feels decidedly on the cultural fringe and boundary pushing art is the norm here. The gallery consists of several white walled rooms and artists' studios on the floors above. Being used to free booze at openings I wasn't overly impressed that they were selling Bowlers Run wine ($2.80 a bottle at Dan Murphys) for $4 a cup at the opening. Guess they got to pay rent somehow.

Went in a few weeks ago to see the Will McKinnon exhibition. Amazing works, massive and deep. It…read morewas a Saturday afternoon, not many people about and I had the gallery to myself for a quarter hour. Melissa, the gallery owner, is passionate about what she does and was really helpful in describing the art works. My only sadness is not having a big enough room to hang the paintings which were on sale! By the way there are other galleries and a tiny outdoor bar nearby. Well worth a look.

I went in to Utopian Stumps to see their current exhibition. The gallery space is a single ground…read morefloor space in one of Melbourne's great old lane-ways. This area has become a hub for new little galleries; there are two more just across Guildford Lane. Utopian Stumps is such a contemporary art gallery with its white walls and polished concrete floor. The exhibitions that I've seen there have all been serious contemporary art by emerging artists. This month's exhibition at Utopian Stumps was by a couple of artists who are doing their Masters of Visual Arts at the Victorian College of the Arts. After I had been looking at the sculptures and three paintings for a couple of minutes a young woman emerged from the backroom to hand me an A4 photocopied room sheet - "the room sheet". I don't know why they weren't just at the door. Not that it was much help, as the works weren't even numbered.

This is a pretty amazing arts space and they show a consistent stream of local and international…read moreart (mostly photography). We were lucky enough to attend a salon with Patti Smith there a few years back and man was I blown away. She was touring at the time and the centre was showing a collection of photographs of Smith's things taken by a documentary film maker that had been documenting her work. The large room there was the perfect place to chill on the floor and absorb the work while Smith regaled us with stories of her artistic and personal life. It's something I'll never forget. What was even cooler was that when we were leaving, Patti cruised past in the back of a car, wound down the window and said hello. We thanked her for being amazing and she bid us a great afternoon. Check this space out. It looks a little serious from the outer, but it's a treasure trove of corners and little maze-like rooms inside.

I regularly visit the CCP to see good photography exhibitions. It is Melbourne's premier gallery…read morefor photographic art exhibitions featuring exhibitions by local and international photographers. Often are three exhibitions on at this gallery at any time, two small exhibitions and one large exhibition in the main gallery space. The CCP is a not-for-profit gallery aimed at exhibiting photography and education. The photographs on exhibition are not for sale, although there is a small shop in the reception area that does sell photography books and Lomo cameras. The elegantly designed gallery is wheelchair accessible, unlike so many of Melbourne's galleries. Photo based art has changed in the last decade; there are a lot more video art on exhibition and the exhibitions have become noisy with video soundtracks mixing together in the spiraling space of the CCP galleries.

West Space has recently relocated to their new inner city digs, befittingly one of Bourke st's…read morebetter art-deco buildings. The entrance is by intercom which promptly opens when buzzed, then up a flight of stairs to the landing which opens out to the West Space gallery. Given the historical nature of the building the gallery space is open, bright and inviting. Galleries can seem a little snobbish (particularly when you have to be buzzed in) but West Space is free from pretension and consistently shows interesting exhibitions. This gallery is artist run and not for profit, theres a distinct communal vibe and is apparent in the lack of price tags. The works are conceptual and can border on the bizarre (art outsiders opinion remember!) which I think is a benefit when artists are free from the restraints of commercialism. Philosophy aside the gallery is SO central its worth poking your head in to soak up some local culture.