Ian Potter Center, NGV Review

Really great art gallery featuring artist from Australia or who once resided in Australia,some really nice collections and best of all it's free,

I am updating this review, I must've reviewed upside down last time.

5 stars, not 1 star

Great if you like art. Finally had the opportunity to see Frederick McCubbin s The Pioneer

Wondful Australian artwork. Iconic. Spoilt in part by the wine spruiking in the courtyard outside.

The buffering and sound quality is really bad here. Other than that the cartoons mostly have some really interesting animation styles so that was interesting.

With a day to spare I decided to investigate the Ian Potter Centre of the NGV.
Getting in was a small problem as the main entrance is not really clearly indicated. One of the NGV hosts indicated where the door is.
Upon entry I was informed that my backpack had to be checked in and I have no problem with this. But the other host was a bit quick of the mark and almost demanded an immediate surrender of my backpack while I was extracting my camera. His attention was not appreciated and he was informed as such.
Next action was to hand in my backpack and was accomplished with pleasantries.
Now to wander of to view the paintings and other artistic offerings.
Without any signage to clearly indicate where I could wander I went to a doorway and was curtly informed that this was a paid entry. The female host made it clear I was most unwelcome without an entry ticket, indicating that she was the signage .
Where to now? As I said there seems to be no clear signage of gallery displays and blindly wandered around till I found an exhibition.
But this was only the ground floor. The other exhibitions are on the second and third floors. There are stairs to climb, but as I have crook knees a lift (elevator) would be perfect or even an escalator. Again no signage. I discovered where the lift and escalators were after my visit to the third floor by accident.
The cafe is also on the third floor. The pocket bread sandwich, in my opinion, is over priced at $14. A cost of $10 would have been reasonable. Even the humble pie is priced at $14.
I enjoyed the stroll around the exhibits and would go back to see the artistic offerings I didn t have time for.
But, the manners of some of the hosts need to be improved along with clear signage of galleries, lifts and escalators.

Free admission for the permanent collection, really interesting collection. I liked the fact aboriginal tools were included with other non aboriginal paintings within the same period.
I really recommend the ''marking time'' exhibition at level 3 until June 2020

The Potter Gallery has most major Australian artists on display, from Nolan to Smart. The collections are rotated frequently, allowing many revisits. Contemporary artists can occasionally be confronting, and exhibitions are a mixed bag, and should be considered based on your tastes. The gallery itself is spacious, well lit, and has plenty of seating if your feet and or hips get a bit tired. There is also a cafe on the top floor, plus a gift shop on the ground floor. Highlyrecommended, and it's free

Didn't enjoy this visit. Gloomy, dull light, sharp and acute edges and a labyrinth of a layout. Guess if you're a regular you'd become used to the space but I really struggled to find my way round and didn't enjoy what should have been an uplifting experience.

I love this place. Really nice gallery with a beautiful ambience. Nicely organised into eras.

Great gallery. Not quite as nice as NGV International, but still a great venue for modern art.

The Hans and Nora Heysen exhibition is a unique opportunity to view the breadth of work of these two outstanding artists. The opportunity to experience Hans's monumental Australian landscapes is not to be missed.

Always an immersive space to lose yourself into. The wonders of this gallery is an experience to behold.

Modern stylish building has a wide range of exhibition

Fantastic gallery showcasing some incredible Australian art. Perfect place to shelter from Melbourne s unpredictable weather, take a break and grab a coffee in the cafe. If you re visiting Australia I found this one much more interesting than the international NGV.

A great gallery, focusing primarily on Australian art

Always something to see - great Australian contemporary collections and diverse exhibitions. Great place to learn about exciting new Australian artists

Indigenous art collection is interesting. Many 19th and 20th c. paintings by Australian artists. Good!

Amazing collection of art. Awesome to see iconic Australian paintings. Go and see when visiting Melbourne . Its great!

Really good range of exhibitions both contemporary and traditional art. There are a couple of galleries within the place so there are lots to view. Highly recommended visiting!

great art in slick venue... exceptional value/ pricing

Good museum, you can easily spend few hours in there. Free gallery in level 2 and 3.

Should be even better when more exhibitions open up.

Fantastic collection will in a beautiful, contemporary building.

The Ian Potter Center is right in the heart of the cultural hub of the CBD, near the Yarra River, not too far from the graffiti laneways and surrounded by thriving walkways, thoroughfares and coffee houses. It boasts some of Australias most significant artworks from the 19th and 20th centuries which are well displayed and curated and complimented by city views from points throughout the atrium. This is a great place to spend one hour gazing at works and pondering there meaning and enjoying the slow-paced and quite nature of the galleries. Just adjacent to the galleries is screenworlds which is a permanent exhibition on all things interactive media and gaming and is worth spending an hour testing all of the exhibits here also.

Very interesting art exhibitions and talented artists. Free entry.

Terrific Australian Art Gallery in Federation Square. Some wonderful examples of indigenous art - brilliant piece by Clifford Possum - worth the visit just to see it.
Also loved the early colonial painters and the early Australian impressionists.
Only had a couple of hours here sadly. Make sure you allow a good half day.

Beautiful space. "The Field Revisited" exhibition was particularly beautiful.

While studying art in school I ve found a fascination and going there gallery even built my passion for the art

Simply splendid, especially the abstract and arboriginal section. It is not the museum one expects, it is huge. In 3 hours I was unable to visit it all and I had to leave otherwise the shops closed. The internal shop is also very beautiful.

Great gallery and love the free exhibitions that run there. Been a few times and it never disappoints. There is always some thing new and interesting to see.

Great snap shot into Australia art. I enjoyed the quiet ambiance and load colours, especially in the indigenous art section. Maybe even better than the NGV international.

Australian themed art. Normally quite different and thought provoking exhibitions.

The Roger Kemp exhibition was very impressive as was Joseph Brown's collection. What a philanthropist!

I have been to 4 exhibitions in the past 6 months and loved them all. Great facilities and layout and innovative presentations of some amazing Australian Artists. A super gift store and many excellent cafe's nearby.

No trip to Melbourne is complete without a visit to the Ian Potter centre, whether to see eg magnificent Aboriginal art, work of renowned Australian artists, current exhibitions, the well-stocked shop or just to soak in the architectural delights of the forecourt. The cafe is NOT to be recommended (shame) and fortunately there are other cafes nearby.

Always worth a visit! Great showcase for independent art and wonderful permanent collections.

Very good and free sample. It is next to the Federation sq. of forced passage.

Stunning gallery in a building with bespoke architecture

We thought the exhibitions were beautifully presented so much to see and do. Plenty if free exhibitions but the Hans Heysen was worth paying for his daughters paintings and their story very interesting.

i love this place. so much great art and new exhibits all the time

I enjoyed the "Hans & Nora Heysen" exhibition at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV, although I would've preferred the information associated with each picture to be next to it, instead of across the room. Great pictures & talent, though. Very enjoyable.

Guided tour of the permanent collection is highly recommended.

The outside is very beautiful, the design is Chinese style. I only visited outside but it was very beautiful. There is a huge lake with some birds coming to the bath. Next to it is a whole house of architectural artists who are also very impressed.

Exhibition of Colony Frontier Wars on the third floor was good. In particular, from the viewpoints of Aboriginal and Non Aboriginal, the appearance of colonial rule can be felt from art works, appealing to sensibility.

Great selection of art. Is free and worth spending some time.

Great shop and exhibitions
Not to be missed..