Art galleries, for me, are the perfect place to exit city life and enter a world of other people's…read morecreations. Located in Paddington, The Butler Goode Gallery arranges some of the leading exhibitions in the whole city. The specialties of this gallery include exclusive offerings of European and World art, Contemporary Australian art, and Aboriginal art. I would definitely say that The Butler Goode Gallery is one-of-a-kind in Sydney, perhaps even Australia as a whole. Its director, who's from the UK, is truly passionate about bringing artwork to Australians that would have never before been obtainable. I had the opportunity to pass by the gallery for a special event. November 5th was the first anniversary of the Gallery's opening and there was a special get-together to celebrate this milestone. In addition to featuring some beautiful pieces (as usual) there were really nifty live demonstrations from resident artists. Of course, the prices for artwork sold here are pretty steep, but the connection you have with a painting is priceless.

To my knowledge the Iain Dawson Gallery is the only art gallery on Oxford Street in Paddington. It…read moremust be a risky business running any Art gallery in Sydney but having to cough up the rent on in the Paddington end of Oxford Street each week, must really be a challenge. But obviously something is working. I am a fan of Modern Contempory art, I love installations and all the crazy abstract stuff that people say "that isn't art" about, I love ideas and works which make you think. Iain Dawson is presenting exhibitions which are somewhere between safe modern art and stuff that is a bit more out there, I haven't yet seen an exhibition that really blows me away, not that I see every exhibition, but I am impressed by some of the riskiness of the art on show. The current exhibition is by an Artist named Alun Rhys Jones and his work is predominantly portraits presented in a 3D like perspective of bright saturated reds, purples, blues yellows, etc. He also has many works of skulls in the same colour scheme. I am not sure I would hang them in my living room, but someone out there must want to.

If you want to buy contemporary Australian art, there's only one place that you need to visit: Ian…read moreDawson Gallery. This gallery offers the best quality art from emerging artists. The selection is very diverse from paintings to sculptures to photographs and prints. The pieces on display are unique, timeless, and beautiful that will enliven any place they decorate. Aside from the high quality artworks that they sell, this gallery also offers consultancy for those who would love to get some professional insight on what artworks to buy. This consultancy helps you get products that suit your personal taste, budget and style. This personalised service is one of the best things about this gallery. So if you're in the market for some art, IDG is highly recommended.

If you want a crash course in Australian art, come here. With huge retrospective exhibitions…read morefeaturing prominent Aussie artists like Arthur Boyd, a visit here is like Australian Art History 101. Their stockroom has more than 1500 pieces, featuring names like Barry Humphries, Fred Williams and Charles Blackman. They've been around for more than three decades and have apparently bought and sold more than 1000 paintings in that time. (In fact, here's a bit of trivia for you: in 1982 Savill broke the record for the highest priced painting sold in Australia. I brought some overseas visitors here and they loved it.

One of the best things to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon is to visit the Dickerson Gallery in…read moreWoollahra. This gallery deals in and exhibits art works from Australian artists. These artists range from the young and the old. From those who have yet to be known to those who are already notable for the great art that they produce. They have paintings, sculptures, photographs, and works on paper that are displayed through their monthly exhibitions. The gallery itself is quaint and cozy, adding to the relaxing feeling you get while admiring the different artworks on display. The Dickerson Gallery is a great place to relax and reaffirm the testament that we should support our own. Definitely recommended.

The Brett Whiteley Studio in Raper Street, Surry Hills was the studio and home of the famous…read moreAustralian artist Brett Whiteley. Along with his wife, he bought the former T-shirt factory and converted it into a studio which later became a home for himself. He moved to this studio from his Lavender Bay home when he separated from his wife Wendy in 1987. He lived here from 1988 through to 1992 where he died in Thirroul. Managed by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the exhibition is sponsored by JP Morgan allowing visitors to see the studio and exhibition free. As expected, photography is not permitted within the gallery. This studio/gallery provides a fascinating glimpse into Whiteley's private world. In his time he was leading the forefront of avant garde in the art movement in Australia and belonged to one of Sydney's first artist communities at the Yellow House which still stands at Potts Point. The exhibition features on the ground floor mostly from one of his most famed works the 'Alchemy'. Painted over a year Alchemy is an expression of the artist's state of mind and all Whiteley's influences over his lifetime. It was painted from left to right but can be appreciated from either way and even if you start in the middle at the painted word of IT. This word IT has much impact on this piece of work but you will have to visit the gallery to find out why. One of the influences for this works was his friend Japanese Yukio Mishima who Whiteley made a portrait of, destroyed it and then included it within Alchemy. Mishima had committed Seppekuku believing the gap between art and action could be bridged with a ritual death. Seppekuku is a Japanese ritual of suicide by disembowelment. In the studio upstairs the furniture, lighting, collections of memorabilia, postcards, photographs, objects etc., are all as he arranged them. The music that is played at the Studio during opening hours is from the artist's collection. It's a privileged and haunting insight into Whiteley's world and the curators are more than happy to share their knowledge of the artist and his work. The studio/gallery is available for education groups for Thurs/Fridays only and drawing classes are available on Saturdays. Wheelchair access is available for downstairs only. Brett Whiteley was one of Australia's most celebrated artists and I hope this review intrigues you to find out why.

Whether you know who Brett Whiteley is or not, this studio of his that remains partly untouched is…read moredefinitely worth a visit when you're next in Surry Hills. Its located on Raper Street, one of the laneways off Devonshire street and is slightly hidden from the crowds circling the bourke street bakery and crown street shops, which makes it even more of a gem. You'll know when you've found the place as you'll see a sculpture of one of his iconic works out front. Two large matches, one burnt and one not yet lit, that seem to represent life and death. When you step into the studio, be prepared to be both awe-struck and inspired. You'll see hand carved wooden sculptures of what seems to be bulbous and curvaceous interpretations of women, landscapes of sydney in Whiteley's identifiable calligraphy styled brushstrokes, big bummed and big breasted images of women on the beach and large mixed media paintings that stretch across the walls, filled with paintings of body parts, the Australian landscape, genitals, a sculpted replica of a brain and even a stuffed bird. I think my favourite part of the studio though is the upstairs area which still remains untouched. This includes his bedroom and working studio space. You'll see the books he kept by his bed, you can really see how they inspired him and added to who he was and his artworks, the futon he slept on with the paints and working materials next to it and also the random quotes on the walls that also speak of who he was, but that also seem to resonate with each visitor as they pass by this room. This is such a great place to visit, I think every person should come here and experience this place at least once in their lives.

In the heart of Paddington, Blender gallery specialises in music and rock & roll photography. In…read morethe age of digital, it's the specialist in analog, it makes you remember old film photography, both through the graceful and inspiring photographers that it promotes, and the analog photo shop, built to support the rebirth of analog in our digital time. So if you feel like wandering around some art galleries, and tell me who doesn't (makes you feel so European) Blender has both local and international music photographers and it's a major brand in fine art music photography in Sydney, Australia. Immerse yourself in and experience their fantastic historical images of rocks' yesteryear. Hop onto their website to view inspiring piece, and get connected to the upcoming exhibitions, which are guaranteed to be jaw-droppingly great.

Very small gallery in an old terraced house. It's dedicated to smaller, affordable works of art,…read moresometimes by newer artists. It's free, full of interesting bits to fit any pocketbook, and very casual. I like the lack of pretentiousness. I was here for an exhibit of photographs of the band AC/DC: not exactly highbrow material, know what I mean? Just enjoyable, accessible, and affordable.

I shed tears, actual tears, tears of love lost, when the original District 01 off Oxford St shut…read moredown earlier this year. Sydney had lost one of her raddest venues and a place renowned for putting on ace performances, plays, sales, exhibitions and just about anything else you can think of. It was making way for a bakery. Now, I'm all for baked goods, but Sydney can't afford to lose little gems like this that add something irreplaceable to the fabric of this damned fine city. Huzzah, then, that District 01 has risen - phoenix-like! - from the ashes of corporate suckitude and is reincarnated in Randle Lane, a small, clean alleyway near Central Station and the place is cooler than ever. HUZZAH I SAY. I attended the relaunch party last night and while there were canapes and live tunes and drinks what I really got excited about was the venue: a white-walled space ready to be transformed into whatever, whenever. A blank canvas waiting for imagination to recreate it into anything the user desires. Light globes hang low from the ceiling. Entry is up the stairs of a repurposed loading dock. And . . . there's just something about partying in a secret alleyway that makes me feel cooler than I probably (er, actually) am.

This is definitely one of those places you've stumbled upon by accident and you want to keep it a…read moresecret. Down a little alleyway off a quiet street, there's a set of door with a sign on them that reads "District 01". Inside is a converted warehouse with white floors, walls and ceiling and a few stacks of white pallets. I was here for a Yelp event so the projector was beaming District 01 offers with intermittent Yelp logos. The night was fairly warm and humid but the venue remained cool enough even though it was packed with people. This is defo worth keeping in mind if you're an event coordinator/PR/marketing peep looking for cool, new venues for events.

On the upper reaches of Oxford St, where Paddo bleeds up towards Woollahra, right near the two…read moreschools and the church hall where Paddo Markets are held, is a store filled with HAPPINESS and GIANT COLOURFUL ANIMAL MURALS and paintings and canvases and other things that fill people with delight. So it's an art gallery, if you didn't get that from the above (and let's face it nobody would blame you if you didn't, I got quite excited for a minute there), it's big and light-filled and stuffed to the gunnels with creations from Perth wunderkind Anya Brock. I walked in there for the first time yesterday. Won't be the last. IF anyone wants to buy me a Christmas gift, you know where to go.