Mark Lobert Gallery

Classy, sophisticated, very New York, crisp, colourful, tasteful, polished are words to completely describe it. When I first saw the gallery from the street it does look impressive and was going to walk straight past but after taking a peep through the half glass door I saw a giant Xmas tree fill the frame, I decided I have to go inside even though I felt under dressed. The epitome of class exudes from all directions, simply jaw droppingly stunning with all the paintings on the walls, some not his but most are, the colour scheme is perfect. Crisp white — but not fluro white — walls, one feature black wall, chocolate drop wooden stairs, decorative seating, original honey coloured matt polished floors, this can be a library all he needs is some arty books and a coffee machine and hey presto — oops wrong word… not classy enough.
Mark Lobert has certainly grown and flourished with his poppies which I’m sure we’ve seen pop up at one event or another, namely when the Rundle Street Markets were in existence, he is no more a starving artist having to peddle his wares at markets. He has made it now and the gallery is even to the point of ostentatious.
Upstairs there are several rooms all with the Mark Lobert stamp on them, one room in particular contained several black and white photos of Port buildings framed in black on the walls, another appeared to be a storage room with more massive size paintings, and one other intriguing room had lots of people working. He was speaking to the couple in front of me explaining he runs workshops for $ 150 where they produce one small and one large painting with his guidance, all the while enjoying a chicken and champagne lunch. Now every artist needs some inspiration infused with alcohol, it’s what makes the abstract paintings! After the couple left he just looked at me and didn’t actually speak to me, maybe it was the camera hanging around my neck that was off putting… it’s ok Mark no hard feelings (but I can take a photo or two of my own you know).
The gallery has also expanded into a multi function centre hosting private or corporate functions, weddings, birthdays (hey, what about paint ball!), and probably just about any other sedate event. Price is let’s just say an investment. Definitely worth a look as there’s nothing like it in the Port.