Brett Whiteley: Inside the Studio

Take a virtual tour of the former workplace and home of Australian artist Brett Whiteley (1939–92), located in Surry Hills on Gadigal Country.

Whiteley bought this two-storey former T-shirt factory in 1985 and converted it into a studio and exhibition space. He lived and worked here from 1987 to 1992. After his death, it was opened to the public in 1995 as an exhibition venue and museum under the auspices of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. 

The ground floor is dedicated to exhibitions of Whiteley’s art while the upstairs studio and living space, which are featured in this tour, have been preserved to reflect the artist’s working environment.

In the studio, you will see unfinished paintings, art equipment and collections of reference material and books, as well as a graffiti wall covered with quotes and images. The living area is filled with memorabilia and the objects that inspired Whiteley such as photographs, postcards, furniture, his music collection and sketchbooks. These spaces offer insight into the artist’s creative process and the environment in which he made art in the last years of his life.