On Brisbane's Brunswick Street, in the ground floor of the Judith Wright Arts Centre in Fortitude Valley, sits an institution that has been quietly shaping the trajectory of contemporary art in Australia for more than half a century. The Institute of Modern Art — the IMA, as it's affectionately known — is Australia's oldest independent public art gallery, and one of the most important forums for contemporary visual art in the entire Asia-Pacific region.
A Pioneer Since 1975
Founded in 1975, the IMA emerged at a time when Brisbane's contemporary art scene was still finding its feet. Over the decades that followed, the gallery established itself as an essential part of Queensland's arts ecology — a space where experimentation, care, and criticality converge in ways that continue to challenge and inspire audiences.
"The IMA champions contemporary art, artists, and ideas, connecting local voices to global dialogues via inclusive, sustainable, and innovative institutional practice," the organisation states. It's a mission that has guided the gallery through more than fifty years of exhibitions, publications, education programs, touring shows, and off-site projects.
World-Class Exhibitions, Always Free
What makes the IMA remarkable isn't just the quality of its programming — it's the accessibility. Entry to the IMA is always free, ensuring that transformative encounters with contemporary art are available to everyone, regardless of their background or budget.
The gallery's exhibition history reads like a who's who of contemporary art. From immersive video installations by Marianna Simnett to the delicate wall drawings of Tom Nicholson, from the mechanical kinetic works of Ross Manning to powerful installations addressing global displacement, the IMA consistently presents work that is bold, thoughtful, and deeply relevant to the world beyond the gallery walls.
Education and Community
The IMA's education program welcomes high schools, university classes, and community groups, offering guided tours tailored to each group's needs. It's part of the gallery's broader commitment to making contemporary art not just visible but genuinely engaging — meeting people where they are and inviting them into conversations they might not have expected to have.
First Thursdays — the IMA's regular evening events — bring artists, thinkers, and the public together in a more social setting, creating space for the kinds of informal conversations about art and ideas that rarely happen in formal gallery settings.
Connected to the World
As a founding member of Contemporary Art Organisations Australia, the IMA is part of a national network of independent spaces that collectively form the backbone of Australia's contemporary art infrastructure. The gallery's touring exhibitions and off-site projects extend its reach far beyond Fortitude Valley, connecting Queensland artists with audiences across the country and around the world.
The IMA is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, and the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy — recognition of its essential role in the nation's cultural landscape.
Visit the IMA
The Institute of Modern Art is located at 420 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, in the ground floor of the Judith Wright Arts Centre. The gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is always free. Just a five-minute walk from Fortitude Valley train station, the IMA is one of Brisbane's most rewarding cultural destinations — a place where fifty years of artistic ambition and community spirit come together in every exhibition.