Hobart’s 10 Best Contemporary Art Galleries

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is the southern hemisphere’s largest privately funded museum, with its entire collection valued over 100 million Australian dollars (£53 million). It features contemporary art from owner David Walsh’s private collection, who has called it a “subversive adult Disneyland”. MONA is home to interesting works such as Untitled (bowl & fish) and Monkey Skeleton, which Walsh apparently bought when he was drunk. There are no labels on the walls at MONA; instead, there’s the O, a device that allows visitors to read about the art on display and listen to artist interviews. You can pick it up at the museum or download it as an app.

Housed in the Salamanca Arts Centre, Inka Gallery is a non-profit and artist-run initiative that features work from both emerging and award-winning independent Tasmanian contemporary artists. For more than 16 years, the gallery’s annual exhibition programme has showcased works that employ a range of different mediums. Fortunately for those not based in Hobart, the gallery ships pieces worldwide.

In a former life, Nolan Art’s workspace used to be a part of a whaling warehouse, but today, it describes itself as “an art gallery with a difference”. Nolan Art features exhibitions from contemporary Tasmanian artists, including painters, photographers, jewellers, sculptors and printers. Private tuition is available at Nolan Art, as well as art parties and workshops for both children and adults.

Since opening a decade ago, Art Mob has displayed work and collections from a number of established and emerging Aboriginal artists from across Australia. A past exhibition, Stories From my Heart – Which Way, featured work from various Lockhart River artists. The team at this gallery are passionate about Aboriginal fine art and its diversity and have described it as a “life-changing experience”.