Arthouse Gallery

A Contemporary Art Hub in Rushcutters Bay

Ali and Diana Yeldham set up Arthouse Gallery back in 1994, and it's been a steady presence in Sydney's art world ever since. The place sits at 66 McLachlan Avenue in Rushcutters Bay, just near the harbour with plenty of other creative spots nearby. It's built up a track record over the past thirty years of backing Australian and First Nations artists at all stages of their careers. The gallery recognises the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of the land.

Rushcutters Bay has turned into a proper spot for galleries, artist studios, and creative types, making it a solid afternoon destination if you're keen on contemporary art. The team there takes real care in how they work with their artists, and it shows in what they put on.

Representing Diverse Contemporary Voices

Their collection spans abstract, figurative, landscape, seascape and coastal work, portraiture, realist and surrealist pieces. You'll find work by Archibald Prize finalist Martine Emdur, who's been exhibiting for over twenty-five years and has picked up multiple awards along the way. Aaron Kinnane and Michael Muir, both Wynne Prize finalists, also show their work here. Kinnane focuses on landscapes and those split-second moments that grab your attention, while Muir explores solitude in suburban spaces and what they reveal about being human.

First Nations art sits at the heart of what the gallery does. They actively display Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists alongside non-Indigenous creators. The space positions itself as backing its artists to grow both creatively and commercially, linking them with serious audiences and collectors who actually engage with the work. This approach goes well beyond simply putting paintings on walls. It means fostering genuine conversations between artists, collectors and the public about what Australian and contemporary art can really do.

What's On at Arthouse Gallery

You'll find work by artists like Kate Bergin, whose surrealist paintings have featured recently, alongside pieces in photography, sculpture, and installation. The gallery shows at major art fairs across the country: Sydney Contemporary, Melbourne Art Fair, the Australian Works on Paper Fair, and Art Sydney. It also has satellite exhibitions in Melbourne, Perth, Indonesia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, which has given it a foothold in Australasian and Asia-Pacific art circles.

The gallery goes beyond just hanging work on walls. It runs lectures, concerts, readings, workshops, debates, special projects, and performances with curators, authors, musicians, and artists. These events give people a proper chance to talk through what's happening in contemporary art. The goal is straightforward: help grow awareness of visual arts across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Collector Services and Bespoke Support

Buying art is personal. Arthouse Gallery offers personalised video consultations so you can talk through what you're after, plus they'll show you how works might look in your own home before you commit. They also handle delivery and installation to take the stress out of it. If you're after something to give as a gift, they run a gift registry service, which beats the usual suspects.

The stockroom's worth a visit if you want to browse beyond what's hanging upstairs. Whether you're deep into the Asia-Pacific art scene or just starting to collect contemporary Australian pieces, the crew there knows their stuff and can point you in the right direction.