Exploring QAGOMA

You can’t beat a day spent gallery hopping - immersed in art, culture and a little visual indulgence. It’s the kind of day that pairs perfectly with the Lexus NX - your ideal companion for a seamless cultural escape to Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and Queensland Art Gallery (QAG).

Arriving at Brisbane’s Cultural Precinct is refreshingly simple, with parking available beneath QAG and the State Library via Stanley Place. Step out of the car and into a full day of creativity with our ultimate QAGOMA itinerary.

Kick things off at Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), where the exhibitions are immersive, thought-provoking and anything but ordinary.

Olafur Eliasson: Presence is a must—expect light, movement and sensory moments that shift the way you see the space around you.

Then step into Archie Moore: kith and kin, a deeply personal exhibition exploring identity, family and history—it’s powerful, reflective and stays with you.

Round out your visit with:

• City Before Our Eyes, offering layered perspectives of urban life
• The Big Hose, a bold, playful sculpture along the riverbank
• Art Box for Kids, an interactive zone for hands-on creativity
• Creative Generation 2026 Excellence Awards in Visual Art, showcasing impressive emerging talent

When it’s time to refuel, GOMA Bistro is the go. Overlooking Brisbane’s riverfront, it serves up seasonal, locally sourced dishes in a relaxed alfresco setting.

It’s the kind of spot where you can sit back, people-watch and soak it all in - plus, you’ll have a front-row view of The Big Hose while you dine. Walk-ins are welcome, so no need to lock anything in.

After lunch, wander over to QAG for a slightly different pace - think classic meets contemporary.

Start with Worlds within Worlds: Baroque Traditions, Contemporary Visions, where historic influences collide with modern interpretations.

From there:

• Richard Dunn offers clean, considered works focused on form and material
• Towards a Collapsing World invites you to see things from a new perspective
• Sorcerers from Bohemia: Picasso’s Saltimbanques brings a sense of theatre, whimsy and art history into the mix

Before you call it a day, swing by QAG Cafe. Tucked into a leafy courtyard, it’s a quiet little reset point—perfect for a coffee, light bite and a debrief about the days adventures. 

Your gallery day wraps up the same way it started - in the Lexus NX. Think smooth, quiet and effortlessly comfortable, with all the little extras that make the drive home feel just as good as the day itself.

Lexus of Brisbane Group is a valued partner of Must Do Brisbane.com

Image credits:

2. Olafur Eliasson / Denmark b.1967 / Beauty 1993 / Spotlight, water, nozzles, wood, hose, pump / Installed dimensions variable / Purchased 2025. The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust / Collection: The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © 1993 Olafur Eliasson 

3. Views of GOMA Bistro, with The Big Hose 2022-25 by collaborating artists Tony Albert (Girramay/Yidinyji/Kuku Yalanji peoples) and Nell / The Big Hose project has been realised with generous support from Andrew and Dr Susan King, the Neilson Foundation, Margaret Mittelheuser AM and Cathryn Mittelheuser AM, Gina Fairfax AC, Dr Shirley Hsieh, and the 2022 QAGOMA Foundation Appeal / © Tony Albert and Nell / Photographs: N Umek and C Baxter
GOMA Bistro dining delights / Photography: C Baxter

4. Pablo Picasso / Le Repas frugal (The frugal meal) (from 'La Suite des Saltimbanques' series) 1904, printed 1913 / Purchased 2015 with funds from the Margaret Olley Art Trust through the QAGOMA Foundation / Collection: QAGOMA / © Succession Picasso/Copyright Agency