The results of an extraordinary $60 million development opened in May 2021. HOTA Gallery is a world-class fine art gallery housed in a six-level facility designed by ARM Architects – a mulitcoloured high-rise building visible from kilometres away that in turn enjoys 360 degree views of the Gold Coast region.
The gallery features a 1,000m2 level 1 special exhibition space for touring shows, a children's activity zone as well as four levels of permanent exhibition space showing an entertaining and vibrant selection of Australian contemporary art. The collection is not a comprehensive survey but rather follows a number of themes. It's strong in 1970s abstraction, ceramics (through the International Gold Coast Ceramic Art Award), photography (through the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award) and Indigenous art. Naturally, there is a strain of art inspired by the Gold Coast itself.
The building itself is fun to navigate with various views to enjoy as you climb the stairs. The top level houses the Exhibitionist Bar (perhaps named in playful homage to the practise of nude sunbathing) with an outdoor area and a menu of cocktails and sophisticated bites. The sensational Palette Restaurant and the HOTA giftshop form part of the main building. A large grassy area joins the gallery to the HOTA Amphiteatre down the hill, with access to the Nerang River and HOTA Green Bridge beyond.
HOTA Gallery was formerly known as Gold Coast City Gallery and was built on lands of the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region. The HOTA precinct is an even one-hour drive from downtown Brisbane and thoroughly worth the journey.