Top ten art venues in Sydney

Whether you’re an art expert or one of those ‘don’t-know-art-but-I-know-what-I-like’ types (or something in between), Sydney’s art institutions and galleries offer something for everyone. Visiting Sydney’s major art venues will typically take you through the best painting, sculpture, design, photography and performance art on offer – and, in testament to the accessibility of art in the city, there’s rarely a fee charged, with modest sums charged only for major exhibitions.

2 Danks St

Waterloo

This former warehouse complex boasts several permanent galleries and spaces devoted to temporary shows, including Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Utopia Art Sydney, Conny Dietzschold Gallery and the Brenda May Gallery, which shows modern, often experimental work in a variety of media.

Art Gallery of NSW

Sydney

A pleasure to visit any time of the year, the AGNSW is more exciting than ever now that it's showcasing the best and brightest of contemporary art in its John Kaldor Family Gallery.

Casula Powerhouse

Casula

Stop moaning and drag your sorry arse out Liverpool way. Yes, there is culture in them there outer 'burbs. Recently refurbished, this industrial-scale centre is hosting a multicultural show of homegrown art, Australian, that's exuberant, fresh and exciting.

White Rabbit

Chippendale

A state-of-the-art, four-floor wonderland of 21st century Chinese art hidden on a backstreet in Chippendale. At the time of writing, the gallery was showing off a dazzling installation made from discarded lamps, a giant sculpted heart, a sparkling clean garbage truck, an ancient wall (with a modern twist) and lots, lots more. Be sure to head to the tea room for dumplings.

Brett Whiteley Studio

Surry Hills

Miraculously, the studio of Australia's great expressionist has been kept the way it was when he died of a heroin overdose in 1992. Browse Whiteley's books and records and see the unfinished painting he was working on. A semi-secret Sydney treasure.

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA)

The Rocks

Two international design competitions, years of planning, months of construction and $53 million later, the MCA – and contemporary art in Australia – was transformed forever this year. On Thursday the 29th of March 2012, the MCA was born again, boasting 50 per cent more floor space, a rooftop café and sculpture terrace, a high-tech education centre and forecourt. The MCA is also making its mark on Sydney social calendars with its regular Lights on Later and Artbar events.

Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery

Paddington

Hard to find, unless you're a cop determined to confiscate 'offensive' photographs, this leading commercial gallery in a tiny Paddington backstreet boasts top Australian artists such as Bill Henson, Tracey Moffatt and Fiona Hall on its books. And a little controversy never hurts, does it?

Object Gallery

Surry Hills

The former St Margaret's Hospital chapel is now a grand circular space for craft and designed objects – and the best gallery art shop in the city.

Ray Hughes Gallery

Surry Hills

We've a soft spot for longtime Sydney art luminary Hughes and his evergreen warehouse, the best gallery in the Hills.

S.H. Ervin Gallery

The Rocks

Housed in the gorgeous 1856 National Trust Centre building, this often-overlooked gallery is well worth a trek through the Rocks (and up Observatory Hill) for.