arrow_back Back to all stories
article local calendar_today Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Good praxis: How a former brothel became one of Adelaide's leading arts spaces - InReview

The article profiles praxis ARTSPACE in Adelaide, Australia, which was originally a former brothel and is now a leading arts space celebrating its tenth anniversary. Founded and directed by Patty Chehade, the space offers professional exhibition facilities for emerging and established artists, featuring a mix of one-person and thematic shows. Notable artists exhibited include Liz Butler, Dianne Longley, Olga Sankey, and Margaret Ambridge.

The article matters because it highlights the challenges faced by mid-sized, for-profit art spaces in Adelaide, which often operate without government subsidies and rely on sales commissions to cover rent, staff, and maintenance. The survival and growth of praxis ARTSPACE over a decade serves as a testament to the determination required to sustain independent art venues, offering a model for how niche enterprises can thrive amid the churn of gallery closures and shifting art scenes.