A fresh creative energy has arrived in Sydney's vibrant Surry Hills neighborhood with the opening of Gallery Brave, a groundbreaking new space housed within the iconic Hibernian House. Launched last month by advertising agency Today the Brave, this isn't just another traditional white-walled gallery space – it's being positioned as a street-facing creative playground where art, design, and culture intersect in dynamic ways.

The gallery represents a bold manifesto for its founding team, who are reimagining what creative agencies can accomplish beyond traditional advertising. "So often ad agencies are making, that creative has been funneled towards making advertising," explains executive Jaimes Leggett. "We've tried to liberate our creative people. Let's make chocolate, let's make merch, let's develop music, let's write books, magazines, curate artists, create our own art." This philosophy of creative liberation forms the foundation of Gallery Brave's mission to support diverse artistic expression.

The choice of Hibernian House as the gallery's home was deeply intentional, given the building's rich history within Sydney's street art community. Over the years, the historic structure's walls have been adorned with works from touring graffiti artists from around the world. "I think if you are a touring graffiti artist and you come to Sydney, you've done work in this building. This feels like an epicenter for that street art scene," Leggett notes, highlighting the building's significance as a cultural landmark for underground artists.

The gallery's name itself carries profound meaning about the artistic process and the courage required to create. "The very nature of creating something is such a personal, such an emotive thing for people to do," Leggett reflects thoughtfully. "Every artist goes through a journey, quite a profound and personal journey to create something. And then they put that thing out to the world for others to see, to judge. That takes incredible bravery." This philosophy of celebrating artistic courage permeates every aspect of the gallery's programming and curatorial approach.

Gallery Brave made an impressive debut with a statement-making launch featuring work from Shepard Fairey, the renowned American contemporary artist and founder of OBEY. Fairey, arguably one of the most prolific and influential global graffiti artists, provided the perfect inaugural showcase for a gallery dedicated to elevating street art culture. The high-profile launch helped establish Gallery Brave's credibility and commitment to presenting world-class street art in a gallery setting.

This month, the gallery is hosting "Among the Brave," an ambitious group exhibition developed in partnership with creative collective KRVNM – midsöle, a crew that has been instrumental in shaping Australia's underground art scene since 2013. The comprehensive show brings together over 30 artists, including notable names such as Peque, Ink Hunter, Sindy Sinn, GBFZ, Silly Pear, and RJ. The exhibition celebrates the kind of community-driven, unfiltered artistic expression that typically thrives outside the boundaries of traditional gallery spaces.

KRVNM – midsöle has built an impressive reputation through their signature exhibitions that explore and celebrate various subcultures, earning widespread support and recognition. Their diverse portfolio includes skull-themed shows backed by Young Henrys brewery and sneaker-focused projects developed with Trollyd. The collective's work has appeared across Sydney's contemporary art circuit, from M2 Gallery to aMBUSH Gallery, consistently championing both established artists and emerging talents who are defining the next wave of Australian street art.

"Among the Brave is where art drops the filter – it's community-driven, gritty and alive," explains Ladyj wüllf, founder of KRVNM, capturing the raw energy and authentic spirit that the exhibition aims to showcase. This collaboration represents exactly the kind of community partnership that Gallery Brave hopes to foster within Sydney's creative ecosystem.

For Leggett and the Gallery Brave team, the mission is refreshingly straightforward and community-focused. "If Gallery Brave was supporting and complementing the art scene in Sydney, that would be a good place to be. To help support and foster the street art scene in Sydney," he states. "We ask so much of artists to conceive and create things – we should be able to help them provide a platform where they can show their work to the world." This commitment to artist support and community building sets Gallery Brave apart from more commercially-driven gallery spaces.

Gallery Brave is open from 4-6 PM Wednesday through the weekend, offering a unique after-work gallery experience for art lovers, culture enthusiasts, and anyone curious enough to discover what's happening inside the historic Hibernian House. "Among the Brave" opens on November 13, 2025, at Gallery Brave in Hibernian House. Those interested in following the gallery's programming and artist announcements can follow GalleryBrave and _krvnm_ on social media for the latest updates and event details.