Located right in the heart of the Perth Cultural Centre, the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) offers you a rich journey through local, historic, and Indigenous art. As you explore this premier public gallery, you will discover an impressive mix of Western Australian art spanning from the 1820s to the 1960s, along with collection pieces influenced by the Aesthetic Movement. AGWA puts a strong emphasis on Indigenous traditional and contemporary works from Western Australia and the Northern Territory, featuring dedicated Indigenous gallery spaces and groundbreaking projects like Desert River Sea.
The main gallery building itself is a unique architectural attraction, completed in 1977 with a striking Brutalist exterior designed using the Bauhaus method. It is connected to the historic Centenary Galleries—the old court house—and includes administration housed in the former Police Quarters. You can also head up to the AGWA Elevate rooftop area, opened in November 2021, to experience a vibrant hub dedicated to sculpture, events, film, and dining options.
Depending on when you visit, you might catch prestigious annual exhibitions such as The Lester Prize portraiture finals or the Year 12 Perspectives display featuring talented graduating student artists.
What to see at Art Gallery of Western Australia
- Dedicated galleries showcasing Indigenous traditional and contemporary art from Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
- Historical Western Australian art collections covering works created from the 1820s through the 1960s.
- The AGWA Elevate rooftop space featuring sculpture, film, events, and dining options.
- Iconic Bauhaus-method Brutalist architecture built in 1977 linked to the historic Centenary Galleries.
- The annual Lester Prize exhibition in October and November displaying forty finalist portraiture artworks.
Visiting tips
Plan your visit during October or November if you want to see the forty finalist works of the prestigious Lester Prize portraiture competition.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: October or November
How to get there & what’s nearby
Art Gallery of Western Australia is easy to reach on Perth’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Perth travel guide.
See the full Perth travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.