From Geelong to Ballarat and Daylesford to Warrnambool, you’re bound to love (virtually) exploring some creative gems and art venues across regional Victoria.
Supporting locals is key in our current climate.
While some of our budgets have tightened and we’ve shifted our usual lifestyles, the creative community needs our help more than ever. Even if it’s following their socials, purchasing a piece or visiting their studio virtually, it all counts!
Geelong
Analogue Academy
Picture this: you’re sitting in a cafe, sipping your oat milk latte wearing rolled-up jeans and a beanie, while waiting for the film pics you took over the weekend to be developed – the perfect hipster scene. Analogue Academy is part film lab, part art gallery and part café and bar lounge. Currently during COVID-19, Analogue is offering free pickup and delivery of film for Geelong, Surf Coast and the Bellarine every Wednesday. Plus, keep an eye out on their socials for photographer profiles as they unfortunately can’t hold art shows.
Where: 23 Cuzens Pl, Geelong
Georgia Naughton
You could say Georgia Naughton’s work is psychedelic – with her use of bold colour, strong images and 70s themes. She mainly produces custom pieces for her clients, and her style offering is quite broad. Her most popular commission is ‘pleb portraits’ (as seen below). These start at $90, depending on the sizing and detail. We’re kind of obsessed with these – what a cute gift idea for a family member or friend! Currently, one of Georgia’s art pieces is showcased at the Metamorph’s online exhibition, which you can purchase directly from the site.
Bellarine & the Surf Coast
Jarryn Dower Art
Sick of holding onto your discoloured, over-used surfboard? Well don’t throw it out just yet. Ocean Grove-based Jarryn Dower can transform a board giving it new life as a re-purposed, sustainable art piece for your home. Encapsulating his love for the Surf Coast, Jarryn’s illustrations all revolve around surf and beach inspired themes. If you’re not after a surfboard design, Jarryn is an all-rounder – he designs custom tees, prints, hoodies, tote bags. Reach out to get your surfing fix. Hang ten!
QDOS Fine Arts
Home to the famous Erskine Falls, Lorne is also known for its arts community. This gallery is unique as they focus solely on fine artists and only exhibit 10 solo exhibitions annually. That’s when you know the works are going to be super special. At the moment, virtual exhibitions are on offer, including the likes of Philip Adams, Ray Firth and James Davis. So have a quick squiz if you’re a fanatic for different landscape interpretations. As stated on their website, it looks like the gallery will be opening back up in spring!
Where: 35 Allenvale Rd, Lorne
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We are still OPEN !!! Come see the amazing artwork by Carmel Wallace HIGHTIDE until 28th March
Ballarat
Susan Nethercote
A floral and botanical dream. Susan – or Suse – Nethercote will brighten your day with her abstract-take on nature’s beauty and her pleasing colour combinations. Most working days, you can find Suse in her 1860s Ballarat home working away in the studio, sourcing inspiration from her ‘ever-changing garden’. Lucky for us, if you want to get an insight into the mind of Suse, she guides the ‘Painting As a Practice’ course showcasing her knowledge of the art world, which is catered to beginner or professional artists looking to experiment with a mixed media painting medium.
Backspace Gallery
Celebrating the arts of the region, Backspace is a community gallery which exhibits local artists and curators. The City of Ballarat supports Backspace and exhibitors are provided with publicity, an opening event with catering and it’s free of charge to use the space (bonus!). Backspace is an intimate environment, so if you want to experience a new form of gallery space when restrictions allow for it, this may be the perfect spot for you.
Where: Huyghue House 15 Camp Street, behind the Art Gallery of Ballarat
Daylesford & Castlemaine
Lot 19
Lot 19 is a dynamic art space consisting of 21 artists’ studios, two outdoor stages, a contemporary art gallery, and an outdoor sculpture park. It’s the perfect picture of the creative community: from performers, musicians, ceramicists, printmakers, painters – how incredible! Unfortunately, Lot19 is temporarily closed but the artists are still working away in their studios during COVID-19 which hopefully means plenty of new exhibitions to come in the future.
Where: Lot19 Mcshanag Drive (off Langslow Street), Castlemaine
Convent Gallery
History nerd? Ok, you’ll get around Convent Gallery. Originally known as ‘Blarney Castle’ back in the 1860s Gold Rush, this gallery was initially built as a residence for the Gold Commissioner. Fast forward, it’s been transformed into a presbytery, a girls’ boarding school and now an art gallery in the space of over 150 years. Over-looking the beautiful greenery of Daylesford, the Convent Gallery feels like a magical, country haven: quaint and cosy. The art is sourced both nationally and internationally and is a mixture of all different styles and mediums. Don’t forget to stop and look at the Chapel and Atlas Bar, both perfect for a wedding event.
Where: 7 Daly St, Daylesford
Warrnambool
The F Project
A self-funded, volunteer-run, community initiative. The F Project (no, not that F word) launched in 2008 when the Fletcher Jones Factory closed in Warrnambool, to help drive the local art community. These volunteers work with artists to exhibit their contemporary pieces, take them on a professional development journey and invite them to lead workshops and classes. Want to go but can’t get there? No worries. This gallery has a virtual 3D experience, taking you through the space so you can immerse in the artworks at home. Throw on some jazz music and your favourite going-out outfit – trust me, it’ll feel like (almost) the real thing.
Where: 224 Timor Street, Warrnambool
Jimmi Buscombe
If you’re from Warrnambool, we bet you’ve heard of Jimmi Buscombe, or at least stumbled across his work. For one, his ‘Gutsy the Wombat’ street mural went viral on ABC back in 2018, which wasn’t meant to stay permanent… oops! Thanks to the help of cheeky Phil Hoy. Jimmi’s style is stunningly eye-catching and a lot of detail goes into his life-like representations. Since then he’s been commissioned for even more and you can catch Jimmi’s street art on walls, towers and pavements across regional Victoria.
