Most underrated spots in Melbourne to find brilliant new art?
I wouldn’t call these underrated by any means, but some new spaces I am enjoying are Discordia, which is in the historic Nicholas Building on the corner of Swanston St and Flinders Lane and LON Gallery, which has recently relocated to Bridge Road in Richmond. There’s also some interesting new spaces which present work at the intersection of art, design and fashion (something that Melbourne is particularly good at!), like At the above on Gertrude Street.
And Sydney?
COMA in Darlinghurst consistently produces good shows which profile up-and-coming artists. There’s also Jerico Contemporary in Woolloomooloo, which does a great job at pairing emerging artists with emerging collectors. A (fairly) recent addition to the Sydney scene is Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert, which is one of the only commercial galleries in Australia that consistently brings together art and design, and champions collectible design, otherwise known as “functional” art.
What’s happening on the Australian art scene in 2021?
After many exhibitions, festivals and other art events were cancelled or postponed in 2020, there is a lot of hope for the Australian art scene in 2021. Many of Australia’s signature art events are now back on the calendar, from the NGV’s Triennial which runs until mid-April, the recently completed Photo 2021, RISING – the newly combined Melbourne Festival and White Night in May, the inaugural international festival of photography, to Sydney’s Art Month in March and Sydney Contemporary in September. There is always something to see, do and experience when it comes to art.
