Behind the neoclassical sandstone facade of the Art Gallery of South Australia lives over 45,000 works. They include permanent installations such as Donald Judd's minimalist, brutalist topographical sculpture on the north lawn; the largest collection of 19th-century Morris & Co furnishings and decorative arts outside the UK; an immersive, visceral crimson string installation from Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota; and Lindy Lee's six-metre metal ovoid sculpture, 'The Life of Stars'.
The gallery, which was established in 1881, exhibits new works, international shows, the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art every two years, the Ramsay Art Prize for artists under 40 and Tarnanthi, a festival of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. The gallery houses a dedicated wing of Australian art; works from First Nations people (the AGSA was the first state gallery to acquire a work by an Aboriginal artist); Islamic and Asian art collections; and European pieces, including sculptures by Rodin. It's open daily except Christmas Day, with a café and gallery shop located on the premises.