Art galleries & exhibitions in Sydney

Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)

It’s hard to beat the location of the Museum of Contemporary Art, sitting pretty at Circular Quay overlooking the Sydney Opera House and just a few steps from the Sydney Harbour Bridge (if you are lucky enough to visit in spring, the jacarandas surrounding are a work of art in themselves). The innovative space celebrates the work of both international and Australian artists, and also hosts education programs, online exhibitions and daily, free guided tours. The evolving collection of over 4,500 artworks is the only public collection in Australia dedicated to the work of living artists, with over a third represented by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. After your visit, be sure to indulge in a long lunch at Canvas, located on Level 4 and boasting incredible views of the harbour and nearby icons.

 Museum of Contemporary Art, The Rocks

Art Gallery of New South Wales

One of Australia’s flagship art museums and the state’s leading visual arts institution, the Art Gallery of New South Wales showcases significant works by international and local artists, including one of the world's largest permanent exhibitions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Receiving over two million visitors a year, the gallery is located just a 15-minute walk from the city centre, in beautiful parklands overlooking the harbour. This is also the home turf of one of the country's most important annual art events, the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes, which spotlights outstanding portrait, landscape and subject or genre artists. Fuel up at onsite Crafted by Matt Moran or MOD Dining after you get your art fix.

Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney 

In 2022, the Art Gallery of New South Wales expanded with the Sydney Modern Project. Housed in a sustainably designed new campus connected by a public art garden to the historic gallery, the space features contemporary exhibitions by leading Australian and international artists in site-specific art spaces, including a column-free gallery and a gallery for time-based art.

Sydney Modern Project, Art Gallery of New South Wales

White Rabbit Gallery

In Chippendale, White Rabbit Gallery displays what has become one of the world’s most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art, dedicated to works made in the 21st century. the space – once a Rolls-Royce service depot in the 1940s – is owned by Judith Neilson, who was inspired after her first trips to Beijing in the late 1990s by the creative energy of the works she saw there. She makes regular trips to China and Taiwan to augment the collection, and each year there are two new exhibitions, with the gallery closed in between (usually in February and August). Just short stroll from the bustling streets of Chinatown and the popular eat street Spice Alley, it makes for a great budget-friendly day out, with admission to the gallery being free.

White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale

Carriageworks

Nearby in Redfern, Carriageworks is the largest and most significant contemporary multi-arts centre of its kind in Australia, housed in a historic railway workshop. Reflecting the diverse communities of urban Sydney, the artist-led program is ambitious, radical and always inclusive. Visit before or after the weekly on-site farmers’ market, or check out its calendar for upcoming events, performances and exhibitions.

The Carriageworks, Inner Sydney

Brett Whiteley Studio

Brett Whiteley Studio is one of Sydney’s best-kept art secrets. As its name suggests, one of Australia's most celebrated artists of the 20th century, Brett Whiteley, lived and worked here from 1988 to 1992. Glimpse his private world through a selection of sketchbooks, photographs, music collections and personal memorabilia, before exploring the surrounding suburb of Surry Hills.

Please note: The Brett Whiteley Studio is temporarily closed for essential upgrades, and set to reopen in late 2025.

Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills

State Library of New South Wales

With a history dating back to 1826, the State Library of New South Wales is the oldest library in Australia. Open to the public, there are more than six million items in the library’s collection, including books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, paintings, architectural plans, objects and digital content – with almost one million readers and visitors walking through its doors each year. Peruse the expansive collection yourself; experience the beautiful architecture of the Mitchell Library Reading Room and Shakespeare Room; or enjoy the vibrant public events and changing exhibitions program. 

Powerhouse Ultimo

Powerhouse Ultimo prides itself on having a contemporary focus on arts, science, innovation and design. The former power station opened as a museum in 1988, and has since become one of the largest and most dynamic in Australia. Inside you’ll find a series of permanent and temporary exhibitions, many with a focus on fashion and design – the museum houses a 500,000-strong collection of works by big names such as Florence Broadhurst, Christian Dior and Alexander McQueen, as well as John Utzon’s original designs for the Sydney Opera House.

Please note: Powerhouse Ultimo is temporarily closed as it undergoes a significant heritage revitalisation that will deliver new and expanded spaces to showcase the museum's renowned collection and present exclusive international exhibitions. Powerhouse will continue to present programs at Powerhouse Castle Hill and Sydney Observatory during this time.

China series by Ah Xian, Powerhouse Museum - Credit: Zan Wimberley

Further afield

Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre

On the banks of the Georges River, you will find Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, a multi-disciplinary arts centre offering a wide range of exhibitions, events and educational programs spread across six galleries, two theatres and a large main hall. With over 140 languages spoken in the local area, the facility aims to represent culturally diverse stories, with an ethos that universal access to the arts, artists and artmaking are a fundamental human right. Gallery admission is always free, as are many of the programs.

Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Sydney West

Bankstown Arts Centre (BAC)

Bankstown Arts Centre is a vibrant, contemporary multi-arts organisation that advocates for diverse and accessible art, with a strong focus on Canterbury-Bankstown, Western Sydney, First Nations and CALD artists. The creative programming is anchored in visual arts, with plans to extend this focus to music, dance and literary events. Check out its calendar to browse current exhibitions, workshops and events.

Campbelltown Arts Centre

If you find yourself exploring the edges of Greater Sydney, make a beeline for the fantastic Campbelltown Arts Centre. Boasting more than 70,000 visitors per year, discover gallery spaces, workshops, a performance studio, large outdoor amphitheatre and, of course, the well-known Arts Centre Cafe. A tranquil Japanese Teahouse and Garden, a Bicentennial gift to the people of Campbelltown by sister city Koshigaya, sits adjacent and makes for a relaxing afternoon walk.

Campbelltown Arts Centre, Campbelltown