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10 Australian Galleries To Shop For Beautiful + Affordable Art

Here at TDF, we’re constantly sharing artworks and emerging artists that we discover with one another, and the good news is, they’re often at great price points. You just have to know where to look.

That’s what inspired us to create this list of 10 great online galleries and platforms selling artworks by Australian talent that’s worth investing in now — whether your budget is $250 or $2000!

Written

Christina Karras

Late in the Day by Neil Whalebone. ($297)

Scandi Noir by Neil Whalebone ($297).

Orange+Blue by Neil Whalebone ($400).

Late Night Snack by John Poole ($740). Red Cap Lap by John Poole ($290).

Meditating on the land by Greta Hounslow ($2240).

Full moon sunrise by Greta Hounslow ($390).

Bluethumb

Bluethumb is an online gallery that represents more than 20,000 emerging and established artists and leading Aboriginal Art Centres from around the country — making it a diverse treasure trove of excellent and well-priced artworks!

You could spend hours searching the categories and find plenty of hidden gems. Some of our favourite names from the platform include self-taught Sydney artist John Poole and Melbourne-based Neil Whalebone — who both have beautiful landscape paintings available for less than $350.

Emerging Hobart artist Greta Hounslow is another one to watch, having already won a suite of awards for her warm-coloured abstracts!

bluethumb.com.au

Left: F ootfall by Michele Burder ($1320). Right: Early Warning, Dusk by Michele Burder ($990).

Grotto by Eleanor Purseglove ($1980).

Pool by Eleanor Purseglove ($790).

Spring Hill by Chanel Sohier. ($790)

Shades of Brown by Emmanuelle McGlade. ($340)

Leighton Contemporary

Leighton Contemporary represents some of our favourite emerging artists, from supremely talented landscape painters like Michele Burder and Chanel Sohier, to Eleanor Purseglove, who recently created a collection of artworks depicting dream-like pools.

Plus, many of us in the TDF office have been coveting (or already purchased!) one of Emmanuelle McGlade’s striking patterned works on paper. The Queensland-based gallery operates online, offering handy payment plans like Art Money and Afterpay, so you can get your hands on a beautiful piece of art that suits you, and your budget.

leightoncontemporary.com

I would love to see you again by Ellie Hannon. ($2,200)

Chance encounters by Ellie Hannon. ($2,200)

Supermarket, or Climate Controlled Fever Dream by Pia Gynell-Jorgensen.

The Kind of Sweet Right Before Rot by Pia Gynell-Jorgensen.

In Flow by Minna Leunig.

Dreams of Garamilla by Minna Leunig.

Backwoods Gallery

Backwoods Gallery opened in the back streets of Collingwood in 2010, and they’re all about celebrating the fun of collecting art. It’s a great place to shop for unique pieces, having previously held exhibitions with exciting local creatives like Victorian-based Minna Leunig.

Currently in their stockroom, you can discover multimedia artist Pia Gynell-Jorgensen’s colourful abstracts, and the playful textural creations of Ellie Hannon.

backwoods.gallery

Left: Out the back of Silverton by Joshua de Gruchy. ($600). Right: Little Layers by Irene Grishin-Selzer. ($490)

Preston 1008 by James Riches ($590).

PM Shop by James Riches ($590).

Contrasting Connections 2 by Zory McGrath. ($1200).

Cowgirl 4 190-24 by Jill Daniels ($780).

Brunswick Street Gallery

With new exhibitions opening every three weeks, Brunswick Street Gallery is one of our go-to spots to discover Australian art at affordable prices. You can visit them in person at their Fitzroy location, or browse their extensive online stockroom, where you’ll find intricate pieces by Zory McGrath, Irene Grishin-Selzer, and James Riches‘ enchanting renditions of suburban landscapes.

BSG also frequently teams up with Art Centres for exhibitions, and they’ve still got some of the endearing rodeo-inspired paintings by Jill Daniels from Ngukurr Arts for sale!

brunswickstreetgallery.com.au

Rainy Night Mountains by Amber Hearn ($1300).

Down South by Tiarna Herczeg. ($2000)

Summer Rain by Chloe Caday. ($750)

Star Tree by Mim Fluhrer. ($900)

Curatorial+Co

Sydney gallery Curatorial+Co is renowned for its collection of original works by emerging and mid-career artists. And female and non-binary creatives make up about 80 per cent of the talent they represent!

If you’re looking for an abstract piece, check out the nature-inspired paintings of Amber Hearn and Mim Fluhrer, or contemporary First Nations and Hungarian artist Tiarna Herczeg beautifully bold canvases. Chloe Caday also has some great landscape paintings available for under $1000.

curatorialandco.com

Everything was done by Emma Labattaglia. ($870) Photo – Rachel Yabsley

Pitta patta pitta patta by Emma Labattaglia ($870). Photo – Rachel Yabsley

Sardines on Bleu de Roi by Phoebe Stone ($1375). Photo – Rachel Yabsley

Summer Accessories by Phoebe Stone ($1760). Photo – Rachel Yabsley

Hake House

Founded just a few years ago in 2022, HAKE House of Art brings a fresh perspective to the Australian art scene. This year alone they’ve held exhibitions with a great line-up of young artists, including Phoebe Stone and her still-life series on ‘feasts’ and the organic paintings of Emma Labattaglia.

And if you’re in Sydney, you should visit their Northern Beaches space to see a new group show curated by Hannah Lange, highlighting a stunning collection of work by contemporary First Nations artists!

hake.house

24-678 by Yikartu Bumba ($840).

24-1099 by Yikartu Bumba ($840).

24-1117 by Lynette Rowlands. ($230)

Martumili Artists

It’s no secret we at TDF are big fans of Martumili Artists. In fact, we’ve worked with the art centre in Newman, Western Australia, for three TDF Collect exhibitions!

The centre represents artists from across East Pilbara region’s vast stretches of desert lands, which is home to the Parnpajinya, Jigalong, Parnngurr, Punmu, Kunawarritji, Irrungadji and Warralong communities. Every piece is vibrant and emotive, but we have our eyes on some recently completed paintings by Yikartu Bumba and Lynette Rowlands.

martumili.com.au

Green Door by Colleen Guiney. ($895)

Tending to the Garden by Ella Dun ($1500).

A bowl and a green apple on pink by Sophie Sachs ($1400).

Michael Reid Northern Beaches

Michael Reid Northern Beaches is curated by director and art writer Amber Creswell Bell (who also co-founded their National Emerging Art Prize), so safe to say, she has her finger on the pulse when it comes to unearthing new talent.

Some of the highlights from their recent exhibitions included a group show featuring Queensland artist Sophie Sachs‘ impeccably realistic still-life paintings, and a solo show of calming, subdued pieces by Colleen Guiney.

michaelreidnorthernbeaches.com.au

Reflecting by Ash Leslie ($1200).

Soft Touch III by Leanne Xiu Williams. ($960)

Saint Cloche

Located in Sydney’s cool inner suburbs, Saint Cloche is an equally cool spot to see (and shop) original artwork from local artists who would appeal to first-time art buyers and collectors alike.

For example, Leanne Xiu Williams creates elegant still-life paintings with an expert quality well beyond her years. Their stockroom also features some lovely pastel pieces by TDF Collect alumni Ash Leslie!

saintcloche.com

Autumn #8 by Julia Stewart ($695).

I Can’t Stop Thinking About You by Mia Boe ($250).

Date (Melbourne Music Room, HER) by Mark Bo Chu ($2100).

Studio Door by Matthew Dettmer ($900).

Sunday Salon

Founded on the belief that art should be for everyone, Sunday Salon’s mission is to simplify the art buying experience, while championing a new generation of artists and collectors.

Curated by third-generation art dealer Lily Mora, the Northcote gallery regularly releases original artworks for sale online, in addition to offering a selection of accessibly priced limited-edition fine art prints. It means you can buy a Mia Boe print for $250, or make a worthy investment in one of Mark Bo Chu’s brilliant depictions of Melbourne’s famous restaurants and streetscapes.

sundaysalon.com.au