Located in the middle of the North Terrace cultural precinct is the state’s official art gallery, the Art Gallery of South Australia. Since moving from two rooms at the public library in 1900, the gallery has continued to expand. It now houses one of Australia’s most significant collections of Australian art.
Take a tour with one of the gallery’s fun and engaging staff members and you’ll walk away with a wealth of knowledge. The Art Gallery of South Australia’s collections are made up of 38,000 individual works, with a focus on Australia, Europe and Asia. The European collection includes work from the Renaissance through to modernist periods, while the Asian collection features work from 12 countries. There’s also a dedicated Islamic gallery space.
The Art Gallery of South Australia is famous for its Australian work, particularly its important collection of indigenous art many world-famous names are included at the gallery. Other Australian works date back to European settlement, and include paintings by Sidney Nolan and Arthur Boyd. As you walk through the chronologically curated Australian rooms you’ll begin to understand the artistic movements Australian artists have played a role in.
Temporary and traveling exhibitions are frequent at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Check the gallery’s website for a schedule.
The Art Gallery of South Australia is located on the northern edge of the city center. The Adelaide central train terminus is a five-minute walk from the gallery. Buses and trams stop nearby. There’s a paid parking lot across the road from the gallery’s main entrance on North Terrace.
While admission is free to the gallery, the temporary exhibitions often have a small fee. The Art Gallery Food + Wine offers refreshments and the gallery has an attached gift shop. The Art Gallery of South Australia is open every day, except Christmas Day.
