One of the best things about living in or visiting Melbourne’s iconic Chapel Street Precinct is immersing yourself in our incredible local and international art scene. Here are just some of the amazing contemporary galleries you can fuel your creative side with.
South Yarra Art House Gallery is recognised for their cosy space, tucked off Chapel Street behind the new Capitol Grand complex. For the last 25 years they have been promoting artists working in Australia to buyers nationally and internationally. Their small team works with customers and Interior Designers to enhance residential and corporate spaces with beautiful original artworks. The gallery houses a diverse range of artwork from contemporary, abstract to detailed Australian Landscape scenes. They have new artwork arriving regularly and can superimpose artworks onto customers walls.
6 Almeida Cres, South Yarra
ensemble fine art offers carefully selected and researched contemporary artwork by prominent and collectable Australian artists. Of particular interest are Melbourne artists who emerged in the 1980’s. On a local note, many of the featured artists have an association with the Prahran Art School and have studios or works showing in galleries in and around Prahran. They also offer a three month ‘rent-to-try’ option so you can be confident the purchase is 100% right for your home.
2A, 127 Greville St, Prahran, @ensemblefineart
Image credit: Stephen Haley
[MARS] (Melbourne Art Rooms) is a contemporary gallery dedicated to exhibiting and promoting contemporary Australian artists. Established in 2004 by director Andy Dinan. [MARS] specialises in building the careers of our talented contemporary artists. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay on Chapel Street, [MARS] has three art apartments above it’s gallery, each dedicated to a contemporary Australian artist. Click here for more info.
7 James Street, Windsor, @marsgallery
A ‘celebration of light’ brought to life by a team of passionate, international award winning lighting designers. The gallery is a space in which local artists and designers can collaborate to use the tools of light to enhance and embellish both art and everyday pieces alike. We welcome all creatives and visitors to experience the space and explore how lighting can be used to alter one’s perception of a space or piece. A gallery and space where trial and error are part of the journey, having fun and celebrating light and new discoveries.
541 Chapel Street, South Yarra, @glowingstructures
With capacity for 20 up to 300 people, Bromley Gallery Events inside Capitol Grand has four distinct event spaces which can be used independently or connected for one seamless event. Wow your guests as opulent light fixtures surround and original art pieces adorn it’s walls. Vast floor to ceiling windows command awe, capturing natural light and uninterrupted views. Bromley & Co Gallery welcomes your next event among the incredibly unique original artwork of David Bromley.
241 Toorak Rd, South Yarra, @bromleyandco
A retail space, a creative place and a designer showcase. SoHigh Gallery is a perfect space for independent artists and curators to showcase solo/group exhibitions, performances and pop-up shops while retaining full control of the presentation. These guys also host Designer Showcases, a creative concept developed to promote the talents of independent and emerging Australian designers. Each event runs across two days with a party and live see-now buy-now presentations. Between events, SoHigh is set up as a retail gallery for established artists. Whether it’s hanging on the wall or a clothing rack and everything in between; they stock a wide range of incredible art in a retail context.
143a Chapel Street, Windsor, @sohighgallery
Image credit: Artist Scott Petrie exhibiting at RTIST Gallery
RTIST is a multi-disciplinary design management studio that specialises in bespoke projects that conceive the individual elements of any space. Committed boundary-pushers and insatiable talent-hunters. RTIST Gallery represents an eclectic mix of local, modern artists and designers, showcasing their work in their Greville Street gallery and giving them homes through their interior design services. Doubling as an artistic space for your next event, RTIST Gallery boasts two sizeable exhibition areas, a stylish bar area, two small courtyards and a larger courtyard with outdoor lighting. RTIST Gallery is a beautiful, light-filled space with a an edge that will have you intrigued.
29 St Edmonds Rd, Prahran
Image credit: Inherit the Dust
Source Photographica was established by Philip Kulpa who has been an active participant in both the Australian and International visual arts industry for 25 years. What started out as a vintage photography collector’s passion has progressed to something much bigger, with a focus on supporting and showing established and emerging contemporary artists locally and internationally. First opening its doors in Aspen, USA the gallery has now relocated to Grattan Street, regularly exhibiting incredible works. Lucky us!
3/1 Grattan Street Prahran, @sourcephotographica
Featured image: Maurice Golotta, Tunnel People 1
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