Gertrude Contemporary opened in 1985 in a large converted warehouse in Fitzroy, Melbourne and led the way as Australia’s first combined gallery and studio complex.
As Melbourne’s leading center for contemporary art and ideas, the organization has continued to build on its innovative origins, growing to facilitate the expanding field of contemporary art through a wide variety of exhibition, studio, curatorial and education programs. With the artist firmly placed at the center of all of our activities, the center is positioned at the nexus between the production of contemporary art through their studio programs, and its presentation through their exhibitions and publications.
Gertrude Contemporary presents approximately 20 exhibitions annually featuring work by Australian and international artists across three gallery spaces with a focus on new work, commissions and expanded practice.
Running alongside our Exhibition Program is the Gertrude Contemporary Studio Program, which consists of sixteen non-residential studios, available to artists in the first fifteen years of their professional practice and provided for two-year tenures.
Gertrude Contemporary also has a residential studio for visiting international artists, curators and writers for residencies of between two-weeks to three-months, as well as producing several international touring exhibitions per year. The center also offers a world class Education Program, Volunteer and Internship Programs, Gertrude’s Table Patrons Program, annual Gertrude Editions as well as an active publishing program.