The Renshaws

Contemporary Art in Fortitude Valley: The Renshaws' Vision

The Renshaws, located at 4 Prospect Street in Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006, operates as a combined studio and gallery. It's a working space where exhibitions sit alongside artist residencies, mentorship, and direct dealings between artists and collectors. The setup shifts and adapts depending on what the founders reckon works best for the artists involved. Open Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 5pm, the place genuinely feels like a functioning studio rather than a polished white box, which sets it apart from most inner-city galleries. You can see artists working there, which changes the whole vibe of the experience.

The gallery backs its artists with real opportunities to build their practice and reputation across Australia. It's not just about putting paintings on walls. The Renshaws runs collector meetings, private gatherings, and ongoing programs that bring artists, their work, and people together in meaningful ways. Having the studio and public-facing space under the same roof means it functions as a genuine incubator for artistic development and cultural dialogue.

A Roster of Established and Emerging Australian Artists

The Renshaws shows work by ten artists across different disciplines and styles. You'll see abstract and conceptual pieces mixed in with figurative work, landscapes, and photography. The artists are Dane Mitchell, Edwina McLennan, Henry Turner, Ian Burns, Julie Fragar, Monique Lacey, Michael Georgetti, Narelle Desmond, Rebecca Diele, and Susan Jacobs. Rather than focusing on a single aesthetic, the gallery represents a genuine mix of contemporary Australian voices working in various modes right now, from abstraction through to landscape and photographic practice.

Artist Residencies and the Minjerribah Island Retreat

The Valley Studio & Residency puts visiting artists up in a one-bedroom apartment with a 6 by 4 metre studio space in the city for up to two months. Being in Fortitude Valley means you can tap into Brisbane's art scene and exhibition contacts, but you've still got your own private studio. Then there's the Minjerribah Retreat, 30 kilometres east on Minjerribah, the world's second-largest sand island and country of the Quandamooka people. That one's a two-bedroom place running for up to six weeks, offering artists somewhere quieter to work and think in the island's natural setting and cultural context. Both are invitation-only, which tells you something about how The Renshaws picks the artists it wants to support.

The Renshaws opens Sydney space in Alexandria

The Renshaws is stepping outside Brisbane with a new studio at 111-117 McEvoy Street in Alexandria, Sydney, opening in September 2026. The move reflects the gallery's view that Australian contemporary art thrives on cross-state connections. From Sydney, they can run artist residencies, host exhibitions from other curators, and link up more effectively with galleries and institutions across the country and overseas. It's part of how they're growing their support for artists while widening the reach of the work they represent nationally.

Getting There and Getting in Touch

{"text":"The Renshaws opens Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 5pm, at 4 Prospect Street in Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006. If you want to visit the studio or book a private event, you'll need to arrange it ahead of time. Ring Danielle Renshaw on +61 (0)408 498 339 or email danielle@therenshaws.com.au to sort out a visit, chat about artist representation, or ask about residencies. The gallery recognises the Turrbul, Jagara, and Quandamooka peoples as the traditional owners of Brisbane and the Moreton region, and their continuing relationship with culture, community, and Country. This place has something for collectors after new work, artists keen to show their practice, and anyone curious about what's happening in Australian art.