Institute of Modern Art

The Institute of Modern Art (IMA) is a free public gallery in Fortitude Valley, presenting contemporary visual art, artists and ideas from Queensland, Australia and further afield. Its programme spans exhibitions, talks, performances, sound works, publications, education projects, touring exhibitions and off-site projects, giving visitors several ways to engage beyond a standard gallery visit.

The IMA’s programme is deliberately varied. The listed calendar includes exhibitions by Jon Rafman and Ho Rui An, a conversation between Petra Cortright and Brian Butler, a sound performance by claire rousay and Peter Knight, curator talks, architecture discussions and a performance by artist and technologist Mindy Seu. Seu’s A Sexual History of the Internet is a participatory lecture-performance in which attendees use Instagram on their phones and read historical material aloud together. It is an 18-plus event with explicit references to sex and sexual assault, bright light and a very dark space, so checking the event information is important before booking.

Located on the ground floor of the Judith Wright Arts Centre at 420 Brunswick Street, the IMA provides a central Fortitude Valley setting for exploring experimental contemporary art. Entry to the gallery is always free, making it suitable for a solo visit, a planned cultural outing or a casual stop while spending time in Brisbane’s inner city. Events vary in format and may be held offsite, so visitors should check the individual listing for location, registration and accessibility details.

Founded in 1975, the IMA describes itself as Australia’s oldest independent public art gallery and has played a longstanding role in Queensland’s arts community. Its history is also available through an online archive covering four decades of exhibitions, with interviews, images and material connected to its exhibition history. Alongside the gallery programme, the IMA runs a shop, podcast and newsletter, and operates as a registered charity and membership organisation. With free admission and a programme that moves between exhibitions, discussion, performance and sound, it suits visitors who want to spend time with contemporary art in different forms rather than follow a single permanent collection.