Figurative art shows recognisable human figures, bodies, and faces. It sits apart from abstract work, which strips away representation in favour of colour and form. When you're looking at figurative art, you're engaging with the human condition, portraiture, and emotional truth. The tradition goes back through Old Masters and classical sculpture, but contemporary artists working in this mode keep pushing things further. They layer abstraction, distortion, and symbolism over the human form. Some pieces are photorealistic. Others veer expressionistic or psychological. The common thread is that the human figure stays at the centre of the work.
Hobart, Hobart
Bett Gallery is based in Hobart and works with a range of contemporary Tasmanian and Australian artists. You'll see paintings, photographs, sculptures, and mixed-media pieces there, covering everything from abstract and figurative work through to landscape art. What stands out is the focus on artists who are genuinely interested in exploring land, place, and environmental issues in their practice.
Hobart, Hobart
Colville Gallery is a contemporary art space in Hobart run by appointment only from Collins Street. It represents Tasmanian and Australian artists working in painting, sculpture and mixed media. The gallery works with both established and emerging practitioners, concentrating on contemporary work.
North Hobart, Hobart
Contemporary Art Tasmania is a free public gallery in North Hobart where you can check out contemporary work in all sorts of mediums and art practices. They run regular exhibitions featuring both established and up-and-coming artists, and they offer studio spaces and curatorial mentorship to help support local artists.
Hobart, Hobart
Despard Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery in Hobart, Tasmania, that focuses on figurative and landscape painting. The gallery works with established and emerging Australian artists, showing oil paintings, mixed-media works, and photographic pieces. They run regular exhibitions and offer private sales as well.
Mid
Hobart, Hobart
Handmark Gallery is a commercial gallery in Hobart, TAS 7000, representing a number of contemporary artists who work across painting, sculpture, ceramics, works on paper and jewellery. They offer art consultancy if you're kitting out a home or workplace, and they're always putting on shows from their roster of artists.
Hobart, Hobart
Nolan Gallery & School of Art sits in Hobart's Salamanca Arts Centre and shows work by local Tasmanian artists. You'll see paintings, sculptures, jewellery and ceramics. Some pieces are pretty traditional, landscapes and portraits mostly, while others lean more towards abstract or contemporary art. They run art classes, put on exhibitions, and you can hire the space for events.
Emerging · Mid
Hobart, Hobart
Penny Contemporary is a gallery in Hobart that works with local, national, and international artists in contemporary art. You'll find both emerging and established artists here, showing work across painting, sculpture, photography, textiles, and mixed media. Their focus leans toward figurative, landscape, and abstract pieces.
Emerging · Mid
Spend some time looking at figurative work in person and pay attention to which pieces grab you, whether that's emotionally or intellectually. If you're keen to start collecting, maybe begin with works on paper, drawings, prints, or smaller paintings instead of splashing out on big pieces. They're usually cheaper (around $300 to $1,500), easier to live with in your place, and they're still serious artistic statements. Get to know the people working in the galleries. They're often pretty helpful and can point you towards artists and work that might suit your taste. And here's the thing: buy work you actually love. Don't buy something just because you reckon it'll go up in value."}.
Hobart galleries have some real perks. You'll pay less than you would for the same work in Melbourne or Sydney. You can actually see pieces in the flesh, which matters if you want to make a decent buying decision. There's a genuine connection between artists and the people here, so you usually get artist statements and proper information about their practice. The figurative art scene is taken seriously and stays contemporary. When you buy from local galleries, you're putting money straight back into Hobart's arts community and building relationships with the artists and curators who are actively shaping where the city's culture goes. Plus, if you spot emerging Hobart figurative artists early on, there's real potential for the work to gain value as they develop.
{"text":"Contemporary Art Tasmania in North Hobart is where you'll find emerging artists and experimental work at reasonable prices. Nolan Gallery & School of Art in the Hobart CBD stocks developing figurative artists too, and because it's part gallery, part studio, you can get work that won't break the bank. Penny Contemporary also handles emerging and mid-range figurative pieces. All three have stuff under $2,000 if that's your budget. Check out what they've got on show at the moment and sign up to their mailing lists so you know when new work comes in at your price point."}.
Emerging figurative art typically costs $800-$3,500 for paintings or sculpture, usually from artists in their first decade of professional practice or still building a name. The work tends to be experimental and bold, and it can pay off if the artist's career takes off. Mid-range pieces go for $3,500 and up, made by established artists with solid exhibition records and actual collectors buying their stuff. You'd want emerging work if you're genuinely keen on an artist's direction, can handle the possibility that the work might not increase in value, and reckon supporting early-career artists is worth it. Go for mid-range if you'd rather back artists with a proven track record, want something with less financial risk, or need a piece that fits your home and matches your taste. Hobart's galleries stock both kinds.
North Hobart sits about 10-15 minutes north of Hobart CBD by car, or a 20-25 minute walk if you fancy it. Metro Tasmania runs buses out there too. If you're after emerging or experimental figurative work on a budget under $2,000, it's definitely worth heading out. Elizabeth Street has a decent spread of independent shops, cafés, and restaurants mixed in with the galleries, so you can make a proper afternoon of it. Most collectors who come to Hobart end up doing the CBD and North Hobart together in the one day anyway.
{"text":"Ask the gallery for the artist's CV and exhibition history, an artist statement about their work, the medium and dimensions, when it was made, edition number if there is one, what framing it needs, and any provenance details. Find out if it comes framed and whether that cost is separate. Check their policy if you want to return or swap it because it doesn't work in your place. Get a proper invoice. At smaller galleries or artist-run spaces, the price might be flexible, so ask. And here's the good bit: ask the gallerist why they're showing this artist and what made them pick this particular work. You'll often get insights that change how you see the piece."}.
Figurative art shows recognisable human figures, bodies, and faces. It sits apart from abstract work, which strips away representation in favour of colour and form. When you're looking at figurative art, you're engaging with the human condition, portraiture, and emotional truth. The tradition goes back through Old Masters and classical sculpture, but contemporary artists working in this mode keep pushing things further. They layer abstraction, distortion, and symbolism over the human form. Some pieces are photorealistic. Others veer expressionistic or psychological. The common thread is that the human figure stays at the centre of the work.
{"text":"Hobart's collectors have warmed to figurative work in the last ten years or so. Part of that tracks with broader shifts away from purely conceptual work toward something more tactile and human-scaled. But it's also particular to where Tasmania is right now. The collecting community here has always cared about landscape and place, yet younger artists and buyers are equally focused on the people living in those landscapes. You'll find hyperrealistic portraiture, contemporary figure painting, and experimental approaches to the body in local galleries. Hobart's gallery scene stocks figurative works at all price points and across different mediums, so there's usually something worth looking at for first-time collectors on a tight budget and for those seeking investment-quality pieces alike."}.
Most of Hobart's figurative art galleries sit in two neighbourhoods right next to each other: the CBD and North Hobart. The CBD holds five of the seven galleries mentioned here: Bett Gallery, Colville Gallery, Despard Gallery, Handmark Gallery, and Nolan Gallery & School of Art. They're within easy walking distance, clustered around Elizabeth Street and Salamanca in the heritage precinct. You can knock out a few galleries in an afternoon without wearing yourself out, compare what each one does, and check out different price ranges. Being in the CBD also means you've got cafés, bookshops, and the waterfront nearby, so gallery visits fit naturally into a day out.
North Hobart, sitting northwest of the city centre, has become the second hub for contemporary work. Contemporary Art Tasmania is based here, reflecting a shift toward artist-run and experimental spaces in the inner-north. Elizabeth Street in North Hobart now has independent galleries, studios, design shops, and restaurants scattered along it, forming an arts precinct that's different from but works alongside the CBD one. Collectors hunting emerging artists and less traditional figurative work often find what they want in North Hobart, plus lower prices than some CBD spots. Metro Tasmania buses connect both areas, and there's parking around, though it gets tight near Salamanca during busy times.
For visitors planning a trip, knowing the layout helps. After traditional, mid-range to premium figurative work in a conventional gallery setting? The CBD cluster gives you plenty of choice in one spot. After emerging artists, experimental figure work, or figurative pieces mixed with installation or other media? North Hobart's worth the trip. Plenty of collectors do both areas in the one visit, seeing Hobart's south and inner-north as one art system rather than separate places.
Hobart's art scene has always been shaped by landscape. Artists from John Glover onwards built their names on painting Tasmania's wild scenery, and that tradition still matters. But there's been another strand running through the city quietly all along: portraiture and figure work. What's changed is that in the past decade or so, especially as MONA opened its programs and arts school graduates stuck around, people started paying real attention to figurative art. Collectors here now want contemporary work that deals with how we represent ourselves, our bodies, psychology and identity. Landscape paintings still sell, but they're no longer the only show in town.
Figurative art collecting works differently in Hobart than it does in Melbourne or Sydney, mainly because of money. An emerging artist's figurative painting goes for maybe $1,500 to $4,000 in a local gallery. That same artist in a major capital might get double or triple that. It matters because serious collectors can actually build something without spending like billionaires, and first-time buyers can get in without feeling priced out. Then there's the way artists and buyers actually know each other here. A lot of figurative artists keep studios in Hobart or come back regularly, and some teach or run community programs. When you buy from a local gallery, you're not just buying a painting, you're getting some contact with the artist's world. That feels different from the more distant relationships you get in bigger commercial markets.
The figurative scene here skews female and queer, which matters for the work being made. Many of the artists getting shown are women or LGBTQ+ practitioners, and they're making work that takes representation, bodies and identity seriously. Collectors who want something with real intellectual bite rather than just a nice portrait to hang up will find plenty of that. And Hobart galleries aren't just selling paintings. You can look at drawing, sculpture, printmaking, painting all at once. That means you're actually weighing up different artistic languages rather than picking between five slightly similar pieces.
Hobart's galleries stock figurative work across plenty of different mediums. Painting's the main one, oil, acrylic, gouache, and mixed media on canvas or paper, but you'll also find sculpture in bronze, ceramic, wood and steel, plus drawing, printmaking, and photography. What matters practically is knowing what suits your space and budget. A big oil painting needs serious wall real estate; an etching or limited-edition print costs less, takes up less room, and you can move it around. A ceramic sculpture needs the right spot but gives you something to walk around and look at from different angles. The good thing about Hobart's gallery scene is you can see all this stuff in person instead of staring at screens.
The prices divide pretty cleanly into two tiers. Emerging artists, usually in their first decade or so of professional work, sell figurative paintings and sculptures for roughly $800 to $3,500, with works on paper and prints from about $150 to $800. That's where you find the riskier creative choices and where an artist might really take off if you're watching their work over time. Established artists with solid exhibition records and collectors buying their work charge $3,500 to $15,000 or more for major pieces. These are people with profiles across the region or country, whose work ends up in public collections and surveys. Even in that range, prices bounce around quite a bit. A solid mid-career figurative painting might be $6,000 to $9,000, while something large or historically significant could hit $15,000 and above.
Hobart's galleries don't try to be everything to everyone. Most pick a lane. Despard, Handmark, and Colville tend to focus on established artists in the mid-range, with serious depth. Bett, Nolan, and Penny Contemporary mix emerging and established voices in a way that creates actual conversation between them. Contemporary Art Tasmania leans heavily on experimental and emerging work. If you're putting down five grand on a figurative painting, you want to know whether the gallery cares mainly about provenance and institutional credentials, or whether they're betting on experimental work and new artists finding their feet.
The seven galleries here, Bett, Colville, Contemporary Art Tasmania, Despard, Handmark, Nolan, and Penny Contemporary, all have their own approach to figurative art. Rather than rank them, it helps to think of each offering something different. Bett Gallery and Colville Gallery are both in Hobart's CBD and have solid reputations for showing contemporary work. They carry figurative pieces but mix them with abstraction and other things, so you get variety without laser focus on one style. Despard Gallery is also CBD-based and has serious institutional backing behind it. Handmark Gallery balances commercial sense with craft and design, often featuring figurative work alongside discussions about hand-made practice. These four are your go-to spots if you want established figurative pieces in standard gallery settings.
Nolan Gallery & School of Art works differently: it's a gallery with a teaching studio attached. That changes things because there's always fresh work from students and teachers, people coming through regularly, and classes happening. You're walking into an actual art-making space, not just a quiet sales room. Penny Contemporary is also in the CBD and shows a mix of contemporary art, figurative, abstraction, and mixed media depending on what's on. Then there's Contemporary Art Tasmania in North Hobart, which is artist-run and operates more leanly. They're more willing to take risks with experimental or unconventional figurative work. It's worth a visit if you're curious about ideas, careful with money, or keen to spot emerging artists before they blow up.
In practical terms: if you're new to buying figurative art, visit several galleries and work out what you actually like before you spend. Budget under $2,000? Go to Contemporary Art Tasmania and Nolan. After investment-quality work from artists with serious credentials? Despard, Colville, and Handmark are your best bets. Not sure what you're after but open to thoughtful shows and finding something unexpected? Bett, Penny Contemporary, and the experimental spaces in North Hobart are worth wandering through. Most galleries have websites and send out emails when shows are opening. Sign up to a few and you'll know which exhibitions match what you're after.
You really do need to see figurative art in person before buying it. Photos flatten three-dimensional pieces and get the colours wrong, full stop. With a figurative painting, the longer you stare at it, the more you notice. Size is crucial too. A portrait might look great online, but face-to-face it could be huge or tiny in ways a photo just can't show you. Pay attention to the light as well, because how a painting looks in a gallery is often quite different from how it'll look on your wall at home. Good galleries will let you spend as much time as you need looking at work. The staff aren't trying to sell you something; they're there to help you actually see what you're looking at.
Before you fork out money, try to learn something about the artist. Did they go to art school? Are other galleries showing them? Has their work made it into surveys or public collections? This stuff matters both morally (you want to back people who are serious about their craft) and practically (it affects whether it'll be worth something down the line). Most galleries can pull up artist statements, CVs, past shows, and photos of other pieces they've done. Ask for them. A solid figurative painting from an artist who's been showing for ten years across multiple venues is a different proposition to a first piece from someone just starting out. One isn't better than the other, but it's worth knowing which is which when you're deciding what to buy and what to spend.
Some galleries will budge on price, others won't. Independent dealers and artist-run spaces might be flexible; the fancier galleries usually aren't. If you love something but the price is steep, ask straight up about payment plans or negotiating a bit lower. The worst they'll say is no. Look into the framing and condition too. Works on paper need proper conservation framing, and paintings sometimes come without a frame, so budget for that. Get everything in writing: receipt, artist's name and the piece's title, dimensions, year made, what medium it is, edition number if there's one, and any provenance info. This covers your back, acknowledges the artist properly, and means your collection's actually documented. Hobart galleries, even the smaller ones, know this drill and won't blink at providing it.
You don't need deep pockets or an arts degree to build a good collection. What you need is to pay attention and stick with it. Visit galleries more than once, take your time, and see what catches you. Which artists do you think about after you've left? Which pieces sit with you? That matters. Start noticing if you're drawn to big paintings, small drawings, prints, or sculptures. Your taste will sort itself out the more you look around. Most collectors buy works on paper first. A drawing or print might run you $300 to $1,500, they're less hassle to move and hang, and they're still proper finished art. You might grab five solid drawings before you even consider dropping money on one big painting, and honestly, five works make for a better story than a single pricey thing.
Get to know the people running the galleries and the artists themselves. Most Hobart gallerists are switched on and genuinely keen to help you find work you'll actually like living with. Go to opening nights and artist talks when they're on. They're free, they're social, and you learn heaps. You'll run into other collectors, hear artists talk about their own work, and see pieces in the way the gallery wanted you to see them. If an emerging artist gets your attention, ask the gallerist about staying in the loop. Some artists do studio open days or keep mailing lists. You might be able to buy straight from them, sometimes at better prices and with a proper conversation than you'd get across a gallery counter.
{"text":"Buy what you actually love, not what you reckon will make money down the track. Sure, there's investment-quality figurative art in Hobart, and some younger artists will probably get bigger later. But the collections people are genuinely happy with come from real engagement with the work, not speculation. A figurative piece you like looking at every day beats an expensive one you're indifferent about. Spending $500 or $5,000, you're backing local artists and building something that actually matters to you."}.
