Arts: Melbourne's hidden galleries, from the city to the suburbs

For art lovers, there’s never a dull day in Melbourne. With institutions such as the NGV International, The Ian Potter Centre NGV Australia and the Melbourne Museum, it’s easy to get a culture fix. The city also has one of the highest densities of commercial art galleries in the world. Of course, there are smaller, less well-known galleries – local heroes around the city and suburbs – that have many treasures to offer, so start exploring.

Heide Museum of Modern Art

Heide started life as the home of John and Sunday Reid who turned it into a centre for modernist artists. Now a museum, it hosts thought-provoking shows such as House of Ideas: Modern Women, which focuses on creative women artists who have been under-appreciated (until October 31) while sculptor Margel Hinder’s work is on show until October 17.

7 Templestowe Road, Bulleen.

Heide.com.au

Anna Schwartz Gallery

Founded in 1986, the Anna Schwartz Gallery has nurtured the careers of many artists over the years and today represents more than 30 contemporary creatives. Marco Fusinato’s show (Experimental Hell, August 7-October 16) will include silk-screen works on aluminium, his new album and a noise performance.

185 Flinders Lane, city. 

annaschwartzgallery.com

Buxton Contemporary

A relative newcomer to the arts scene, Buxton Contemporary is part of the University of Melbourne. Shows are often inspired by the Michael Buxton Collection. The latest, This is a Poem, is a multi-arts project (until November 14) that spans the world of poetry and art.

Corner Dodds Street and Southbank Boulevard, Southbank.

buxtoncontemporary.com

Gertrude Contemporary

For more than 30 years, this non-commercial gallery has been supporting artists. After working with Jeff Koons, Rob McLeish will hold his first large-scale Australian solo show for the 2021 River Capital Commission (August 21-October 17).  

21-31 High Street, Preston South

gertrude.org.au

Linden New Art

This pretty Victorian mansion on Acland Street is an unlikely setting for new and contemporary art. Open since 1986, it hosts the popular annual Linden Postcard Show (December 4, 2021-February 27-2022). The first Design Fringe show is due to open on September 4. Currently showing Natasha Bieniek’s miniature paintings.

26 Acland Street, St Kilda.

lindenarts.org

RMIT

Always exploring new territory, RMIT Gallery, in Storey Hall, offers a range of shows. Future U, an intriguing exhibition (July 23-October 23), looks at what it means to be human in the 21st century. It features artists, designers and researchers including Patricia Piccinini, Jake Elwes and Amy Karle.

344 Swanston Street, Melbourne.

rmitgallery.com

MUMA

Monash University’s art collection is turning 60 this year. To celebrate, MUMA’s Connecting the World through Sculpture (until September 18) looks at the many changes in sculpture over six decades.

Ground floor, Building F, Monash University, Caulfield Campus, 900 Dandenong Road, Caulfield East.

monash.edu/muma.

Koorie Heritage Trust

As well as a large collection of Aboriginal art and artefacts, you can visit Seen and Unseen: Expressions of Koorie Identity (August 7-November 21), which brings together works from pivotal artists of the 1990s and examines how they have influenced younger generations.

Yarra Building, Federation Square

koorieheritagetrust.com.au

Jewish Museum of Australia

The museum focuses on the contribution of Jewish people in Australia. As well as its permanent collection, it hosts interesting shows such as the current Mirka – artist Mirka Mora’s story of survival, migration, art and love with 200 works, which have never been shown before (until December 19).

26 Alma Road, St Kilda

jewishmuseum.com.au.

Islamic Museum of Australia

Tucked away on the banks of Merri Creek, the five galleries here highlight the artistic and cultural heritage of Muslims in Australia and overseas. Australian Muslim Artists (August 19-November 19) is an annual event that provides a platform for emerging and established artists.

15a Anderson Road, Thornbury.

islamicmuseum.org.au