Photography: Hannah Puechmarin / Styling: Hayley Jenkin
There are only two days a year that I wake up with an excited spring in my step: Christmas and the first monday in May. As all fashion lovers know, May heralds the beginning of a new exhibition from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. And opening night? Only the most iconic and extravagant of events: the Met Gala.
This year, the exhibition theme is ‘Costume Art’ and the Met Gala dress code is ‘Fashion Is Art’. This means you can expect fine art references aplenty from the celebrities in attendance, plus designs that examine the human body.
With individual tickets to the Met Gala costing upwards of $110,000 AUD, most Met Gala enthusiasts will have to content themselves with celebrating from the comfort of their own homes. Obsessively refreshing Instagram feeds and harshly judging each look, all while clad in old pyjamas, is a rite of passage but this year interior design enthusiasts can honour the theme in an elevated way. After all, if fashion is art then why not dress up your walls?
Why the Met Gala theme belongs in your home
If you’re not fully dressed without a smile then we believe your home isn’t really “finished” without art on the walls. And if the Met Gala theme is anything to go by, an abundance of artwork is set to become the latest home trend.
Wall art is more than home decor — it’s a direct expression of our cultural tastes, values and personal histories. A print of a famous artwork will usually be an indication of someone’s appreciation for fine art, while a painting of a certain city may reveal their connection or history with that place.
Some of my favourite homes have been the ones filled with art — my grandmother’s bathroom walls were always adorned with drawings of female figures and my first rental was filled with the landlord’s collection of Aboriginal artworks from his time in an outback community. Since moving states, my walls now hold pictures of the beaches and buildings of home.
Your art also doesn’t have to be sentimental — it can simply be an opportunity to experiment with different colours and aesthetics in your home. In recent years, vintage Italian posters of liqueurs or apéritifs (such as Aperol and Limoncello) have become popular for contemporary coastal styles, and vintage portraits and still life artworks are currently experiencing a renaissance with the rise of traditional English interior styles.
Where to buy affordable wall art in Australia
While you can find affordable wall art at most homeware stores, it pays off to know where to shop for the more unique pieces. When looking online, Etsy and Society6 are good places to source affordable and original pieces direct from the artists. You can find reproduced prints of famous artworks on sites like The Iconic and Temple and Webster, and it’s also worth checking out markets, op-shops and art fairs, such as the Affordable Art Fair. Alternatively, you can familiarise yourself with up and coming Australian artists and look out for new pieces.
10 pieces of wall art we would buy in 2026
01
‘Banksia in a Pot’ printed wall art
$66.95 – $605, Temple & Webster
Best for: country interiors
With its classic Australian bush colours, this gorgeous piece of botanical wall art is perfectly suited to a country home or cottage. While the soft blues, greys and greens give the piece a calming energy, the sunny yellow will brighten any room.
Key features:
- Framed wall art
- Designed by Angela Hawkey
- Multiple sizes available
02
Beach season artwork
$14.64 (was $16.27), Etsy
Best for: coastal interiors
Finding the right coastal wall art can be a serious challenge, with too many pieces leaning into cliched beach motifs and visuals. However, this cool coastal artwork strikes the right balance, with its more minimalist take on a beach illustration.
Key features:
- Digital download print
- Signed by artist
- 76cm x 76cm
03
Female figure drawing
From $36.03, Etsy
Best for: honouring the 2026 Met Gala theme
If the Met Gala theme has inspired you to celebrate the human form, look no further than this artwork. Line drawings of the female figure will always be an elegant choice for wall art and this subtle piece is a lovely place to start.
Key features:
- Archival paper
- Multiple sizes available
04
Mini black cat sleeping painting
$36.26, Etsy
Best for: gallery walls
Unique artworks in unexpected sizes can enhance a gallery wall that feels a bit flat. This cute, tiny black cat wall art has plenty of personality, making it a cool addition to any gallery wall or space needing a lift.
Key features:
- 5cm x 5cm
- Acrylic on cardboard
- Made to order
05
Inka Arthouse 2x Japanese Taguchi Tomoki art prints
$60 – $120 (was $120 – $240), The Iconic
Best for: famous artwork prints
Henri Matisse’s ‘Blue Nude’ is one of the many famous artworks that have become popular choices for wall art. If you like the idea of hanging a print of a famous artwork on your wall but don’t want something that everyone else has, these Taguchi Tomoki art prints are a nice option. You can also find prints of famous artworks at gallery exhibitions.
Key features:
- 250gsm archival grade matte paper
- Shipped from Melbourne
- Historical piece
06
‘Abstract Earth Canvas I’
$171 (was $229), Early Settler
Best for: abstract art
Unlike wall art that features a recognisable image, abstract art can be a more subtle way to complete a space. If you’re looking for something neutral yet warm, this abstract canvas from Early Settler is a great choice.
Key features:
- Organic aesthetic
- Brown and white palette
- Hand-painted texture
07
‘Vintage Still Life Orange Painting’
$11.01, Etsy
Best for: still life wall art
With their vintage aesthetic, still life artworks of fruit look particularly charming in the kitchen. If I was hanging art in the kitchen, I’d definitely be opting for something like this cute rustic orange still life.
Key features:
- Downloadable print
- Vintage aesthetic
- Multiple sizes available
08
Grand Canyon painting by Andy Shaw
$1177, Saatchi Art
Best for: A pop of colour
Taking inspiration from Pop Art, this painting’s bright summer colours exude a vivacity associated with warm weather and holidays in far flung locales. While this painting is inspired by the Grand Canyon, the depiction is more abstract and contemporary.
Key features:
- Acrylic on paper
- 17.3w x 23.6h x 0.1d
- Painted by Andy Shaw
09
Flower blues 4.
$895.00, Highgate House
Best for: bedrooms, bathrooms, a vintage touch
This artwork’s soft blue flowers and distressed silver frame is perfect for bringing a vintage element into your interiors.
Key features:
- Distressed silver frame
- Giclee on matte paper
- Deckled and floated on mat
10
Falling Woman Art Print
$30 – $60 (usually $60 – $120), The Iconic
Best for: playful period piece
This painting’s playful depiction of a tired, Victorian woman would be a fun piece to add to a gallery wall or work from home space.
Key features:
- 250gsm archival grade matte paper
- 12-colour giclée
- Water-based ink
