Brimming with talent and buzzing with a creative energy uniquely our own – the burgeoning Gold Coast art scene is skyrocketing to new exciting heights. From the brightly painted and the boldly designed, to the sculptural, the photographic and even the street-inspired, there’s something crafty cooking around every corner of the city. We chat with local artist Tania Blanchard to get the goss on some of the best galleries right here on the Goldie…
What are your top five gallery faves on the Gold Coast?
In no particular order, I love 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace in Mermaid Beach, Dust Temple (café and gallery) in Currumbin, the new and improved Home of the Arts (HOTA), Kira and Kira in Miami, and of course, Gallery One in Southport.
Do go on…!
19 Karen is an industrial warehouse that has been converted into an awesome white wall gallery space. They exhibit lots of local, national and overseas artists at all different stages in their careers – which keeps things interesting. I like visiting this gallery because the art on display is varied, vivid and bold, in exhilarating styles like pop art, surrealism and comic book art. And it’s not just paintings here – striking sculptures and ceramic art can often be found on display. There’s really something for everyone at 19 Karen.
Dust Temple is another warehouse space, but of a different kind. It’s rustic, funky, and a true hidden gem with exposed beams and pipes, concrete floors and eclectic furniture – it’s the creative heartbeat of the community. There’s always something happening here, from art exhibitions to life drawing classes, to poetry readings and live music – it’s an inspiring and quirky place. Plus, they make great coffee!
You mentioned the newly revamped HOTA?
Yes, formerly The Arts Centre, now the Home Of The Arts or ‘HOTA’ – this gallery has been recently refurbished and is better than ever. It’s the Coast’s most prominent public regional gallery and its exhibitions are diverse and dynamic. There’s also a cinema, a café and a theatre here as well, and a new outdoor amphitheatre, which is pretty special. I adore this gallery because every event or exhibition held here is of a world-class standard. It’s an all around creative area for the city, and continues to impress me.
Tell us about Kira and Kira…
I may be a bit biased because my artworks are on display here, but I love this retail and gallery space nestled in the midst of Miami. Grason and Simone are the creative co-owners and real-life couple behind Kira and Kira, with Grason being a bespoke furniture maker, and Simone a talented stylist. They’re super passionate about supporting local and national artists, so you will always find gorgeous artworks donning their walls.
And what is it that speaks to you about Gallery One?
This is where I get my highbrow fix! It’s a contemporary fine art gallery, so only well-established Australian and international creatives are shown here, like award-winning artists David Bromley, Ken Done and Mel Brigg. Be careful though, you may just burn a hole in your pocket…but don’t fret! A piece from Gallery One is an investment you’ll love forever that will only keep going up in value – so win, win! It really is one of Australia’s premier galleries.
Check out how the Gold Coast is carving a new wave of Culture on the Gold Coast.
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