Queensland may be known for its beaches and waterways, but it’s also home to many talented artists working in a range of mediums.
When participating in one (or all) of these art trails, you should prepare to be challenged, inspired and changed for the better. Discover the best art trails in Queensland and meet the artists who beautifully capture Australia’s landscape on pages and prints.
Toowoomba Laneway Art Trail
In 2014, the First Coat Street Art Festival saw artists taking paint to the walls in sixteen Toowoomba locations. This resulted in a collection of unique and exciting street art still on display today, and well worth the journey.
Wandering Toowoomba’s laneways, you will come across more than 55 works from local and international artists covering every inch of wall space. It’s easy to lose hours navigating the array of works, each with their own style and theme. To make it easier, Toowoomba Council have released an interactive map for locating art in town.
Best seen with a coffee and croissant in hand, there’s something for everyone on this relaxed trail through an iconic Queensland town.
Granite Belt Art Trail
Granite Belt Art Trail (GBART) is an annual event featuring some of the region’s top artists. A celebration of creativity and colour, GBART takes place over three days where visitors can follow the trail map to visit artists in their studios and galleries. Some exhibitors are even invited to take up residency in community spaces, with local wineries and award winning cafes often hosting works as well.
GBART is known as a ‘meet the maker’ event, encouraging visitors to start conversations with creatives to learn more about the artistic world.
Plus, the Granite Belt Wine Country is known for its farm gate produce, gourmet food trails and top cellar doors, meaning there’s so much more to explore while you’re visiting the region.
Swell Sculpture Festival
Queensland’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition features more than 65 giant contemporary sculptures, set against a backdrop of the beautiful Currumbin Beach.
Swell Sculpture Festival sets itself apart as not just an art trail, but a celebration of art and culture including pop up exhibitions, live music, comedy, artist talks and workshops. The festival aims to immerse visitors in a cultural experience and puts on a variety of events to facilitate connection.
For an extra special experience, we suggest taking part in a guided twilight tour, where a curator takes you along the sculpture trail to offer insight and perspective on each and every work. From beachside shows to cheese and wine nights, Swell Sculpture Festival is a cultural event you need to have in your calendar.
Lake Dunn Sculpture Trail
Lake Dunn Sculpture Trail is a 200 km loop circuit through Aramac, Lake Dunn and Jericho featuring 40 sculptural installations that celebrate outback wildlife and experiences.
Each and every piece has been hand crafted by Milynda Rogers, who lives on a cattle property in the region. What began as a need to find space for her sculptures quickly developed into a well-known artistic route, as Milynda started placing her sculptures at intervals along the roads near where she lived.
All of the artworks are made from rusting scraps found locally or at the dump. From steel drums to barbed wire and cattle tags, everything has its place in her inspiring sculptures. According to Milynda “my inspiration comes from the characters and animals that surround us here. I like to make my sculptures have a real personality.”
If you’re travelling with the family, kids will love the challenge of finding Wally along the trail. Hidden somewhere on the path is a sculpture of the famous ‘Where’s Wally’ character, a fun way to get the whole family involved.
Australian Silo Art Trail
The Silo Art Trail is an epic road trip across Australia to see giant murals painted on the sides of silos in outback towns and regional destinations.
Though it spans the entire country, those wanting to stay in Queensland will still have plenty to see. The first silo ever painted in Queensland is located in Thallon. Titled ‘The Watering Hole’, it depicts the Moonie River at sunset, featuring native animals and honouring Thallon’s Indigenous community through the inclusion of a scarred tree. The mural is painted on four 30 metre high silos, comprising around 500 litres of paint and 500 spray paint cans. It took around three weeks to finish.
In the artist’ brief presented before the initial painting, they stated that “we want the community to look up at the silos as the sun sets each day and be reminded of why they love the land they live in.”
The grandeur of these artworks must really be seen to be believed, as they’re known to take your breath away. We suggest downloading the Silo Art Australia app before setting off, as it offers a comprehensive map of the trail through each state, as well as information about individual silos.
Noosa Open Studios
Queensland’s largest open studios art trail event is back for ten full days in August and September.
Each year, 100 artists open their private studios for locals and visitors to explore. Featuring vibrant painting, delicate sculptures, bright prints and more, visitors are encouraged to immerse themselves in the creative process and chat to talented artists about their works.
Noosa Open Studios is a free event taking attendees through the beautiful Noose Shire and allowing them to discover hidden gems they won’t find on the tourist guides and soak in the sea-side environment. While here, it’s impossible not to spend a few days surfing, snorkelling and dining in style.
Instudio Art Trail
Now in its 13th year, the Instudio Art Trail is a free self-drive event through the high country region north of Toowoomba.
Taking place every August, visitors are welcome to visit the home studios and exhibition spaces of more than 40 exhibitors, where you can purchase their work, listen to their stories and learn more about their practices. Instudio Art Trail features work in a variety of different mediums including painting, glass blowing, mosaicing, textiles, sculpting, jewellery making and more.
Set in the Great Dividing Range region, travelling along the trail path also affords breathtaking views of the country. You’ll pass through charming country towns and lush landscapes not seen anywhere else.
Loving the best art trails in Queensland? Check out our favourite places to eat and drink in Toowoomba.
