Newcastle is home to a swathe of art galleries, dotted across the inner city and out into the suburbs.

Unless you’re embedded in the local creative community, we reckon there’s pDon't know whelenty of local galleries that you haven’t visited yet. Keep reading for our guide to Newcastle’s art galleries, so you can start planning your next arty day out.

Art Systems Wickham

This quirky space in Wickham hosts exhibitions by mostly local artists and community arts groups. Exhibitions change up every few weeks at Art Systems Wickham, so keep an eye on their socials to stay up to date with the latest.
Where: 40 Annie St, Wickham

Back to Back Galleries

Back to Back Galleries is focused on showcasing clay work, with one space dedicated to exhibiting and another smaller space where members of Newcastle Studio Potters Inc. sell their pottery – both sculptural and functional.
Where: 57 Bull St, Cooks Hill

Blackstone Gallery Newcastle

Hosting both solo and group exhibitions as well as workshops, paint parties, and the Annual Blackstone Gallery Works on Paper Prize, this Hunter Street gallery has been a staple on the Newcastle arts scene for years – and for good reason!
Where: 470 Hunter St, Newcastle

Cooks Hill Galleries

Not only can you discover art in four main exhibition spaces and two main galleries at Cooks Hill Galleries, but you can also get advice on buying and selling art, as well as have works appraised and valued thanks to the expertise of its director, Mark Widdup. 
Where: 65 Bull St, Cooks Hill

The Creator Incubator

The Creator Incubator is a creative hub that’s home to 38 resident artists, designers, and makers. Tucked into the industrial area in Hamilton North, expect art ranging from sculpture and painting to fashion design and photography. You can peruse a whole range of artists at work, or stop by when there's an exhibition on.
Where: 15A/50 Clyde St, Hamilton North

CStudios Art Gallery

This Hunter Street gallery is small but mighty, hosting plenty of exhibitions throughout the year as well as offering workshops, classes, space hire, and a professional practice coach. Chances are you’ll find a new piece to add to your collection next time you visit!
Where: 518 Hunter St, Newcastle

Flying Spanners Gallery & Cafe

The quirky Flying Spanners Gallery was opened in 2010 by Sydney artist, Rebecca Murray. After meeting her husband Grahame Wilson, also an artist, they have together continued to pursue their artistic interests; Rebecca painting and drawing, Grahame sculpting and performance art. In 2014 they decided to add a coffee shop to the gallery so that people might sit a while and enjoy their artistic endeavours.
Where: 7 Anzac Pde, Teralba

Gallery on Christo

Long time supporters of Newcastle’s thriving art scene, Aaron Framed It has recently opened its long-awaited gallery called Gallery on Christo. It's an art space dedicated solely to Newcastle and the Hunter’s artists, and aims to continue to promote the enormous talent that our community continues to foster.
Where: 6 Christo Rd, Georgetown

Gallery Qube

Located at The Station in the CBD, Gallery Qube specialises in landscapes, abstracts, and conceptual art. It’s a great spot to stop by when you’re perusing The Station’s stores or regular markets.
Where: The Station, Hunter St, Newcastle

Jack Jack Store

You might know Jack Jack Store for its range of independent designer clothing and accessories, but did you know it’s also a gallery space too? Keep an eye on Jack Jack’s socials to stay up-to-date with all the latest exhibitions and events – you won’t want to miss them.
Where: 99A Maitland Rd, Islington

John Earle Studio Gallery

Local Newcastle artist John Earle has his own gallery and studio space in Merewether, where you can pop in to check out his recent works as well as works in progress. His landscape pieces are absolutely worth a look in person.
Where: 126 Glebe Rd, Merewether

LEDA Gallery

This little gem of a gallery tucked away off Hunter Street opened in 2022, and has been making its mark on Newcastle’s art scene ever since. The gallery hosts exhibitions, events, life drawing classes, and in 2024, is presenting the first ever LEDA Art Prize.
Where: 2/850 Hunter St, Newcastle West

Lighthouse Arts

Lighthouse Arts is an outlet for art of all kinds, not just visual. Artists can come together here to create art as part of a residency, while visitors can head in for exhibitions, events, and to shop the Art Store. Make sure you stop in next time you’re going for a walk at Nobbys on a weekend.
Where: Nobbys Lighthouse, Newcastle East

The Lock-Up

Taking up residence in an 1800s police station, The Lock-Up is a contemporary arts space that’s become an integral part of the local artistic scene thanks to its exhibitions that explore current social issues. It’s probably the most unique gallery in Newcastle by virtue of its history, and makes for a fascinating visit in the CBD.
Where: 90 Hunter St, Newcastle

Museum of Art and Culture yapang

Located on five hectares of leafy grounds on the shore of Lake Macquarie, the Museum of Art and Culture (MAC) yapang offers art exhibitions, a cafe, retail shop, and a sculpture park. Make sure you leave plenty of time to wander the grounds and take in views of the lake.
Where: 1A First St, Booragul

Make Space

Make Space is an artist-run collective that brings together makers from the Newcastle area and surrounds in a retail store/ events and workshop space at The Station. Admire everything from ceramics and photography to fashion and jewellery when you step inside.
Where: The Station, Hunter St, Newcastle

Mitch Revs Gallery

Prolific local artist Mitch Revs describes the opening of his eponymous art gallery as a happy accident, and we reckon the community is certainly happy about its presence on Union Street. The art inside is a guaranteed mood booster – head in to shop local and international art, merchandise, and organise custom printing and framing.
Where: 203 Union St, The Junction

Newcastle Art Gallery [temporarily closed]

While Newcastle Art Gallery has been closed for a couple of years, it absolutely needs a mention in this guide. The gallery is set to reopen in 2025 after a massive expansion project that will add 1,600 square metres of exhibition space – stay tuned for more information about the gallery’s reopening.
Where: 1 Laman St, Cooks Hill

Newcastle Art Space

For more than 40 years, Newcastle Art Space has been a vital part of Newcastle’s incredible arts community. Not only does Newcastle Art Space host exhibitions, but it also offers artist studios and art prizes, as well as mentoring and internship programs.
Where: 91 Chinchen St, Islington

Newcastle Printmakers Workshop

Newcastle Printmakers Workshop is the home printmakers (working in etching, relief, screenprinting, and lithography) in Newcastle, offering membership to everyone from practising artists to beginners. The workshop frequently puts on exhibitions of its members’ works – stop by to have a sticky beak.
Where: 27 Popran Rd, Adamstown

Onwards Gallery

At Onwards Gallery, expect a diversity of offerings in the realm of creative expression – exhibitions, performances, film screenings, music events, and more, as well as studios for local artists to work in.
Where: 6 Torpey Pl, Hamilton

The Show Room | The Owens Collective

The Owens Collective is a unique hub in Islington, housing short term accommodation, commercial spaces, and events space, The Show Room. The Show Room puts on all sorts of events (even weddings under the Mrs Owens Chapel banner) as well as art exhibitions – keep an eye on The Owens Collective’s socials to stay up to date.
Where: Shop B/101 Maitland Rd, Islington

Playstate on Fern

A fairly recent addition to the arts hub that is Islington, Playstate on Fern is a new-age contemporary gallery that hosts exhibitions, workshops, life drawing classes, markets, and more. Are you an artist? Ask the team about their studio spaces.
Where: 68 Fern St, Islington 

Shannon Hartigan Images

International award-winning landscape photographer Shannon Hartigan has his very own gallery in the Hunter Street Mall, showcasing large framed prints, canvas works, and a range of gift size Newcastle prints.
Where: 91 Hunter St, Newcastle East

SMAC Studio

SMAC Studio transforms an original warehouse into a minimalist, light-filled space that functions as an artists’ studio and exhibition space. Currently, well-known local artists like Lucy Mim and Brittany Ferns have their studios at SMAC – make sure you stop by next time there’s an exhibition showing.
Where: 73A Elizabeth St, Tighes Hill

Straitjacket Art Space

Run by artists Dino Consalvo and Ahn Wells, Straitjacket Art Space was opened in 2022 after years of dreaming and planning. Showing group, solo, and represented artist exhibitions, Straitjacket is a place where artists can shake off restrictions and let their creativity speak for itself.
Where: 222 Denison St, Broadmeadow

Timeless Textiles

Located right next to The Lock-Up, Timeless Textiles is a space for fibre and textile art, boasting exhibitions, workshops, and a gallery shop. Timeless Textiles is the place to visit when you’re keen on discovering art that’s a little out of the ordinary.
Where: 90 Hunter St, Newcastle

The University Gallery

Located at University of Newcastle's Callaghan campus, the University Gallery exhibits a wide range of artistic production from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, international exchanges, touring and collective shows, and solo artists.
Where: The University Gallery & Senta Taft Hendry Museum, University of Newcastle, University Dr, Callaghan

Watt Space Gallery

Watt Space Gallery is the University of Newcastle’s student art gallery. The longest running student gallery in the country, Watt Space Gallery has been an incubator for Australian artists, as well as curators, critics, and teachers that have been mentored and supported at the gallery.
Where: 20 Auckland St, Newcastle

Wester Gallery

Founded in 2022 by local artist Justin Lees, Wester Gallery is a multidisciplinary gallery space in Newcastle West. The gallery attracts artists from across the country, showcasing exhibitions that might not normally be seen in Newcastle.
Where: 16 Wood St, Newcastle West

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