30 minutes or 3 hours: Here’s the best way to spend your time on a visit to QAGOMA

Fri 6 Dec 2024

If you’re a local or visiting Brisbane, whether you have a spare 30 minutes to drop in for a dose of art at either of our neighbouring buildings — the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art — or a leisurely 3 hours to wander both sites, here are some suggestions to make the most of your visit.

Pick and choose your preferences from the range of contemporary and historical Australian, Asian, Pacific and international art on display.There’s something for everyone, whether you’re aged 3 or 103.

Queensland Art Gallery

The Queensland Art Gallery building opened in 1982 as part of the first stage of the Queensland Cultural Centre at South Bank; until then, the Gallery never had a purpose-built permanent home. Designed around the Brisbane River, the spectacular Watermall’s cavernous interior runs parallel to the waterway threading its way through the ‘River City’.

Collection highlight: Australian art

The work of Australian artists have been collected by the Queensland Art Gallery since its foundation in 1895, however few works in our Collection have enjoyed as much popularity as Under the jacaranda 1903 by R Godfrey Rivers (illustrated). Considered a quintessential image of Brisbane, the clouds of purple blooms capture the attention of Gallery visitors and has ensured the painting’s enduring appeal. Hanging alongside is Monday morning 1912 by Vida Lahey (illustrated), another of the Gallery’s most loved works. The painting of two young women doing the family wash, once a common sight in Australian households, now a recording of a by-gone era.

Interesting facts: Under the jacaranda depicts the first jacaranda tree grown in Australia, planted in Brisbane’s Botanic Gardens in 1864; while the laundry room depicted in Monday morning was located in the artist’s home, at the time piped water and built-in concrete troughs were considered modern conveniences!

Location: Australian Art Collection, Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Galleries (10-13)

R Godfrey Rivers 'Under the jacaranda' 1903

Vida Lahey 'Monday morning' 1912

Collection highlight: Contemporary Australian art

The jewellery-like intimacy of Fiona Hall’s Australian set (from ‘Paradisus Terrestris Entitled’ series) 1998–99 (illustrated) is a juxtaposition between culture and nature; human body parts combine with native botanical species.

Interesting fact: The artist has transformed humble disposal sardine-tins by engraving, chasing and burnishing in the tradition of the colonial silversmith.

Location: Australian Art Collection, Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Galleries (10-13)

Fiona Hall 'Australian set' 1998–99

Collection highlight: Indigenous Australian art

Artistic expressions from the world's oldest continuing culture are drawn from all regions of the country in the Gallery's holdings of Indigenous Australian artworks. Kaapa Mbitjana Tjampitjinpa was a well-known artist and respected Elder of Anmatyerre/Arrernte heritage. Goanna Story c.1973-74 is from one of the traditional dreaming stories, and this work shows four of the reptiles moving towards a waterhole.

Interesting fact: The artwork has a strong sense of symmetry; one half is a mirror image of the other.

Location: Australian Art Collection, Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Galleries (10-13)

Kaapa Mbitjana Tjampitjinpa 'Goanna Story' c.1973–74

Collection highlight: International art

Surrounded by works from Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Edgar Degas (illustrated), La Belle Hollandaise (The beautiful Dutch girl) 1905 (illustrated) is a key painting that marks a transition from the subdued hues and emaciated figures of Pablo Picasso’s ‘blue period’ to the serenity and warmth of the ‘rose period’. Picasso must have been pleased with the result — he inscribed the work at the top left as a gift to Paco Durio, his dear friend and neighbour in the Parisian suburb of Montmartre.

Interesting fact: Pablo Picasso's La belle Hollandaise was donated to the Gallery in 1959; at the time this major work by one of the greatest living twentieth century masters; set a world record price at £55,000.

Location: International Art Collection, Philip Bacon Galleries (7-9)

Pablo Picasso 'La Belle Hollandaise' 1905

Edgar Degas 'Three dancers at a dance class' c.1888-90

Exhibition highlight: The Asia Pacific Triennial

For more than three decades, the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art has showcased an evolving mix of the most exciting and important developments in contemporary art from across Australia, Asia and the Pacific. During the 11th chapter, wander through Thai artist Mit Jai Inn’s suspended canvas tunnel in the Watermall (illustrated), its immense hanging ribbon panels inhabit a space between ground and ceiling; then onto Papua New Guinea’s display by collective Haus Yuriyal (illustrated).

Interesting fact: The inaugural Asia Pacific Triennial in 1993 was the first project of its kind in the world to focus on the contemporary art of Asia and the Pacific. ‘The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ which features the work of 70 artists, collectives and projects from 30 countries is at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art until 27 April 2025.

Location: Queensland Art Gallery

Mit Jai Inn 'Tunnel #APT' 2024

Haus Yuriyal 2024

Roy and Matilda

For those visiting with children of all ages, drop by the home of Roy and Matilda, two mice who one day decided to visit the Queensland Art Gallery, loved it so much, they decided to say. Just look for the letters 'R' and 'M' carved into their beautiful wooden front door.

Interesting fact: One day, a man who worked in the Galley’s workshop restoring and carving frames found they were living here and decided to make them a special little front door.

Location: Australian Art Collection, Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Galleries (10-13)

Watermall & Sculpture Courtyard

The Queensland Art Gallery’s grand Watermall — a visitor favourite for both regular art lovers and tourists — extends far beyond the Gallery’s interior; past the Dandelion fountains (illustrated) through to the reflection pond and Sculpture Courtyard. Why not relax and enjoy a quiet moment of contemplation at the adjoining QAG Cafe.

Interesting facts: The Queensland Art Gallery was designed in harmony with the Brisbane River, receiving the prestigious Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture the year it opened, now protected after Queensland Heritage status.

Location: Queensland Art Gallery

Drawing from the Collection

Get creative with our free drawing materials. Grab a drawing board, paper and pencil, then take inspiration from art around you and draw from your favourite works.

Interesting fact: Take a photo of your work and share with us on social media @QAGOMA #MyDrawingQAG

Location: Queensland Art Gallery’s Australian and International Collections

Gallery of Modern Art

Our second site, the Gallery of Modern Art, located on Kurilpa Point — only 150 metres from the Queensland Art Gallery — opened in December 2006. The new building was more than double the Queensland Art Gallery’s size.

Sculpture walk

Ever wondered how many sculptures are surrounding the Gallery of Modern Art — here’s the five fascinating artworks by leading Australian and international artists; take some time for a delightful walk around the building to explore them all.

• The High/ Perpetual Xmas, No Abstractions 2008 (illustrated) is a 10-metre high Gold Coast-style inspired signage sculpture by Scott Redford erected at the forecourt to the Gallery.
• Outside the QAGOMA Store, the Bodhi Tree Project 2006 (illustrated) by Lee Mingwei is a living Bodhi tree with six marble seats that echo the sacred trees heart-shaped leaves, the installation is a focus for gathering and contemplation.
• tow row 2016 (illustrated) is a cast bronze sculpture reimagination of a traditional fishing net used by Aboriginal people by Judy Watson at the entrance to the Gallery.
• Michael Parekowhai’s bronze The World Turns 2011-12 (illustrated) is a five-metre high elephant accompanied by a nonchalant kuril that takes over the stretch of lawn between the Gallery and GOMA Bistro.
• Three white coated aluminium Cubist inspired trees We are shipwrecked and landlocked 2008-10 (illustrated) by Martin Boyce are located at the gateway to the Kurilpa Bridge outside the western precinct of the Gallery.

Interesting fact: Since the Gallery of Modern Art opened, public art has gradually been commissioned to surround the site, complementing the five sculptures surrounding the Queensland Art Gallery.

Location: Surrounding the Gallery of Modern Art

Scott Redford 'The High/ Perpetual Xmas, No Abstractions' 2008

Lee Mingwei 'Bodhi Tree Project' 2006

Judy Watson 'tow row' 2016

Michael Parekowhai 'The World Turns' 2011-12

Martin Boyce 'We are shipwrecked and landlocked' 2008-10

Exhibition highlight: The Asia Pacific Triennial

‘The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ is displayed in both Gallery sites between 30 November 2024 until 27 April 2025. Spread over four levels of the Gallery of Modern Art; the vast central Long Galley is perfect for the display of spectacular contemporary art like Aotearoa New Zealand artist Brett Graham’s monumental installation Tai Moana Tai Tangata (Maungārongo ki te Whenua, Maungārongo ki te Tangata 2020 illustrated) combining moving image and five superbly crafted sculptures.

Interesting fact: Queensland was the first state gallery in Australia to have a second building devoted to contemporary art.

Location: Gallery of Modern Art

Brett Graham 'Maungārongo ki te Whenua, Maungārongo ki te Tangata' 2020

Children’s Art Centre

The Children’s Art Centre’s exhibitions and activities are created in collaboration with artists especially for children under six years of age. The current program until 13 July 2025 includes making and multimedia artist projects for Asia Pacific Triennial Kids.

Interesting fact: Launched in 1999, the Kids’ Triennial has become a much-anticipated component of the series.

Location: Gallery of Modern Art, Park level

Sunset viewing

Got an evening hour to spare? The Gallery of Modern Art’s Night Life 2018 (illustrated) is James Turrell’s architectural light work and the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. As the sky shifts to dusk, Night Life animates the Gallery in an ever-evolving pattern of intensifying and diffusing coloured light from within that envelops the building. This immersive artwork has found a place in the hearts and minds of countless Brisbane residents and tourists.

Interesting fact: Daily from sunset to midnight, the light sequence runs for 88 minutes.

Location: Gallery of Modern Art, east and north facades viewed from the Maiwar Green lawn

James Turrell 'Night Life' 2018

If you still can’t decide what to do, then let our Volunteer Guides make it easy for you with one of of our free guided tours. These take place in both Gallery’s on most days, lasting 30-40 minutes. Here’s the link to the QAGOMA Events Calendar for tour times.

While you’re here, why not pop-in to one of the three QAGOMA Stores packed with inspiring books, stylish accessories, designer homewares and cultural curios to take home.

And, if you work up an appetite on your visit, enjoy a bite to eat at one of our cafes and make the most of Brisbane’s subtropical climate and our riverside location.

We look forward to welcoming you to QAGOMA. Enjoy your visit!

Elliott Murray is Senior Digital Marketing Officer, QAGOMA

Art that feels like summer
Asia Pacific Triennial
Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art
30 November 2024 – 27 April 2025