Queenscliff Gallery (QG) traces its roots to December 2015 when Soula and Theo Mantalvanos purchased the historic 1868 Wesleyan church in Hesse Street after life circumstances prompted them towards a change.<\/p>\n
“After living in one of Melbourne’s most creative suburbs, Collingwood, we thought we could enhance the region’s artistic culture and elevate Australian art – specifically printmaking,” Theo said.<\/p>\n
Housed in the heritage building, QG presents a diverse annual calendar featuring carefully curated exhibitions.<\/p>\n
The artists vary in their levels of recognition and career stages, from nationally and internationally acclaimed figures like Rick Amor (official war artist), Melinda Harper (honoured with a retrospective at Heide Museum of Modern Art), Katherine Hattam (finalist in prestigious national art prizes) and NSW artist Steve Lopes (2018 Gallipoli Prize winner), to some more familiar whose illustrative works have been in the hands of Australians for decades via newspapers and children’s books such as Leigh Hobbs, Michael Leunig and Jim Pavlidis.<\/p>\n
Artists like such as Lana Daubermann, Philip Davey, Anita Iacovella, Melissa Smith (TAS) and the QG Director herself, Soula Mantalvanos, contribute to QG’s rich tapestry, as do the ochre paintings and prints of Tiwi artists that reflect the cultural diversity and artistic richness of Australian art that QG proudly aims to showcase.<\/p>\n
Landscape and still life paintings, sculptures, wood engravings, linocuts, decorative prints and abstract and expressionist pieces successfully cater to locals and patrons visiting QG worldwide and who purchase Australian art online.<\/p>\n
QG is open seven days from Jan-Feb, every weekend and all public holidays; and closed Tuesdays and between exhibitions from March-December.<\/p>\n