Sullivan+Strumpf Celebrates 20 Years

This year marks an incredible milestone for Sullivan+Strumpf, as the gallery celebrates 20 years at the forefront of contemporary art. 

Founded in 2005 by best friends Ursula Sullivan and Joanna Strumpf, the gallery has evolved from a single venue in Sydney to an internationally recognised art institution with spaces across Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore. They now represent leading artists in Australia, the Asia-Pacific and East Asia. Their success reflects both their dedication to their artists and their bold vision for Australian art.

“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved to date. Our goal is to be the best for artists and for collectors. We want to build on this European focus, to take Australia to a global stage,” said the gallerists in an interview with Art Collector earlier this year.

The gallery’s journey began in Sydney, where Sullivan+Strumpf first opened its doors. The gallerists’ dynamic personalities and strong work ethic is what truly set them apart. Their global ambition saw them open a gallery in Singapore at Gillman Barracks in 2016, making it the first Australian gallery to establish a permanent presence in Asia. Today, Sullivan+Strumpf operates three spaces across three cities, with an additional Singapore Studio launched in May 2024. 

Sullivan+Strumpf’s commitment to excellence is reflected in their diverse roster of artists, including Australian luminary Lindy Lee, whose monumental $14 million sculptural installation Ouroboros was recently installed at the National Gallery of Australia. They also represent internationally acclaimed artists like Dawn Ng and Yang Yongliang, whose works have found homes in major public and private collections worldwide. The gallery has also shown a number of Archibald Prize winners, including Sam Leach (2010), Yvette Coppersmith (2018), and Julia Gutman (2023).

Tim Etchells, creator and manager of international art fairs, praised Sullivan and Strumpf as trailblazers, noting their presence at prestigious art events like Frieze London. “In 2024 they did no less than five international art fairs, and at Frieze London they were positioned alongside the international premier league galleries including Pace, Zwirner and Gagosian. These global ambassadors thoroughly deserved to be there!” Etchells said.

On the home front, Sullivan and Strumpf have also made significant strides in terms of diversity within the gallery, achieving gender parity in their artist roster in 2021, a goal set after the 2016 Countess Report.  

As they celebrate 20 years, Sullivan+Strumpf’s ambitious programming continues to focus on pushing boundaries and promoting innovation. The gallery recently participated in the 2025 Melbourne Art Fair and is presenting Gregory Hodge And Then Together (27 Feb – 29 Mar 2025) in Sydney, In My Prime (13 Mar – 5 Apr 2025) in Melbourne, and participating in Art Basel Hong Kong from 26 – 30 March 2025.

Visit the gallery’s website for more information.