It’s the “accidental” gallery that inner-west artists have come to call their own.
Helen Bassett Gallery, tucked away on Wembley Avenue in Yarraville, has been showing the work of an array of local artists since opening last May.
Owner Helen Bassett said it was only by chance that she came to open the gallery, or even return to the art world, after a 33-year break from painting.
“A girlfriend wanted a couple of portraits of each of her daughters,” she said. “I wasn’t interested but she insisted and I did it and got the bug again.”
Her spare bedroom proved too small to continue painting at home so Ms Bassett last year cast her eye around for a studio space, settling on a shopfront in Wembley Avenue.
The window frontage inspired her to create a gallery space as well but “now the tail has started to wag the dog” and the gallery has taken on a life of its own.
The gallery has hosted a number of solo and general exhibitions, creative workshops and, as of last week, even a book launch.
This weekend a “Printmaking Without a Press” workshop will be held.
“The feedback I have been getting is that this is something that has really been needed in this area,” Ms Bassett said.
Helen Bassett Gallery, at 14 Wembley Avenue, Yarraville, is open 10am-5.30pm Tuesday to Friday, 9am-4pm Saturday or by appointment.
For details, visit www.facebook.com/helenbassettgallery.
