Guide 02 Western Australia independent information
Perth art galleries, and the galleries of Fremantle
Most visitors to the capital see one gallery and stop. The city and its port neighbour hold several more kinds of art space, and each answers a different question: what is new, what is local, and what is outdoors.
The Perth Cultural Centre and contemporary art galleries in Perth
The Perth Cultural Centre in Northbridge is the practical hub. Besides the state gallery it contains the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, known as PICA, a contemporary arts centre with a changing programme of exhibitions and performance. PICA is the place to look for current ideas and for artists early in their careers, and its programme changes often, so check what is on before you go.
Because several free venues stand close together, you can see an established collection and a newer exhibition in the same afternoon.
Fremantle art galleries and Fremantle Arts Centre
Fremantle Arts Centre opened in 1973 in a heritage building on a hill in Fremantle. The site was once an asylum and was reused as a place for contemporary arts practice. In 1976 the centre inspired a small publishing programme for poetry and short stories, which grew into the independent house now known as Fremantle Press.
Today it is known for exhibitions, workshops, a garden courtyard and events, and its long running print award is often mentioned in surveys of Australian printmaking. Programmes change from season to season, so look at the centre's own calendar rather than relying on older listings.
University galleries
Two of the city's universities run public galleries on their campuses: the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery at the University of Western Australia and the John Curtin Gallery at Curtin University. They show historical and contemporary work and are useful when you want a focused exhibition with essays and talks rather than a full museum floor. Check campus access and parking notes on the university sites before you travel.
Art outdoors
Sculpture by the Sea is a free outdoor exhibition held on the Cottesloe coast in March. Large works stand between the dunes, the path and the water, so the weather and the light become part of the show. The 2026 edition was the 21st at Cottesloe and drew very large crowds, so go early in the day and expect to share the walk.
Between exhibitions, the same coastline is worth a visit simply for its limestone and sea colours, which many local painters have returned to for generations. For more on that thread, see a short history of art in Western Australia.