Sydney is a vibrant hub of arts and culture, and is home to a variety of world-class galleries and museums that make the perfect addition to Sydney city tours. The Art Gallery of New South Wales is one of the most prominent institutions in the city, dating back to 1871. It exhibits work by a number of contemporary and historic Australian and international artists, and there are several collections dedicated to themes such as Indigenous art and Asian works.
The gallery itself is located near the eastern gate of the Royal Botanic Gardens and is within easy walking distance of the city centre.
The Collections of The Art Gallery of New South Wales
Today, the collection of works at the Gallery of New South Wales is predominantly broken up into geographic region and art movements.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art
This collection is home to a variety of works by Indigenous artists from communities right across Australia. It includes pieces that date back to the late 19th century, as well as desert paintings created by family groups, bark paintings, and new media expressions that have been put together by a range of contemporary artists.
Asian Art
The very first works to enter the gallery’s collection were a gift from the Japanese Government, and the Asian art collection has only grown since then.
Australian Art
Dating back to the early 1800s, this home-grown collection is home to a number of iconic paintings and sculptures from world-famous Australian artists. Expect to see works by the likes of John Glover, Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts, and David Davies.
Contemporary Art
In the contemporary art collection, you’ll find a selection of works from artists that span the globe. Today, the gallery is home to the most expansive collection of contemporary art from the 60s to the present date in the whole of Australia, with a heavy focus on conceptual art, nouveau realisme, and minimalism, as well as abstract painting, expressionism, and pop art.
Pacific Art
Started back in 1962, the Pacific collection now holds over 500 works and is one of the most important private collections of art from the New Guinea Highlands in the world.
Photography
The Gallery of New South Wales boasts an extensive collection of photography works from a range of international and local artists.
Western Art
Finally, the Western Art collection is home to works of British Victorian art, as well as smaller offerings from the Netherlands, France, and Italy. 
