What Was the Gallery of Modern Art Originally?

Art|Modern Art

The Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) is a modern art museum located in Brisbane, Australia. It was opened in December 2006 and is the largest gallery of its kind in the country. It houses a large collection of modern and contemporary art from Australia and around the world, ranging from the late 19th century to today.

The Gallery of Modern Art was originally built as a public library in the early 20th century. The building was designed by noted Brisbane architects Atkinson & McLay and featured classical elements such as Doric columns, marble floors and a grand staircase. The library was very popular with locals for its wide selection of books, but it eventually closed due to dwindling patronage in the late 1990s.

In 2002, an agreement between Brisbane City Council and Queensland Art Gallery meant that the building was renovated into an art gallery. It reopened in December 2006 after a two-year renovation that included new galleries, an auditorium, an outdoor sculpture garden and other amenities. Since then, it has become one of Australia’s most important cultural institutions with over 800,000 visitors each year.

The Gallery of Modern Art has played an important role in promoting modern and contemporary art from both Australian and international artists. It houses a range of exhibitions featuring works from some of the world’s most renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso and Joseph Beuys among others. The gallery also includes permanent displays such as “Australian Collection” which features works by Aboriginal artists alongside those by non-Indigenous Australians; “International Collection” which showcases works from around the world; and “Exhibition Space” which presents temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

Conclusion:

The Gallery of Modern Art is one of Australia’s most important cultural institutions today but it had humble beginnings as a public library built by noted Brisbane architects Atkinson & McLay in the early 20th century. After closing due to dwindling patronage it was converted into an art gallery through an agreement between Brisbane City Council and Queensland Art Gallery in 2002 before reopening in 2006 with its current collection from both Australian and international artists.