The Victorian Artists Society, which can trace its establishment to 1856 in Melbourne, promotes artistic education, art classes and gallery hire exhibition in Australia. It was formed in March 1888 when the Victorian Academy of Arts (previously Victorian Society of Fine Arts) and the Australian Artists' Association amalgamated.

The Victorian Artists’ Society is a not-for-profit organisation and charity registered with the Victorian government. The Artists' Society routinely practices a range of art forms and styles through classes and gatherings in their permanent home, a heritage-listed bluestone building on Albert Street, Melbourne, opposite St. Patrick's Cathedral. As of 2021, the Victorian Artists' Society premises include four galleries, members’ rooms, an administrative office, and the original bluestone studio which operates as an art school.

The Victorian Society of Fine Arts was established in 1856. Beyond a few exhibitions of that society, there was no cohesive art movement in Melbourne until the Victorian Academy of Arts was formed in 1870 with "about twenty artists and amateurs" amongst its first members, including Eliezer Levi Montefiore. The Victorian Academy of Arts held annual exhibitions from 1871 to 1887.

In 1886 a group of professional artists formed the Australian Artists' Association. The artists included: John Mather, Mr. Addison, Mr. G. R. Ashton, Mr. Percival Ball, Signor Catani, James Waltham Curtis, Mr. McCubbin, Mr. Gibbs, Signor Habres, Mr. Kahler, Signor Tocein, Signor Neele, Mr. Patterson, Mr. Rolando, Mr. T. Roberts and Mr. Turner. The association held its first exhibition in 1886, with works by Tom Roberts, Louis Buvelot, Frederick McCubbin, Arthur Streeton, John Ford Paterson, John Mather and many others.

When opening the association's exhibition, James Smith, on behalf of the exhibiting artists stated that the association had not been formed in any spirit of opposition or rivalry with the older academy and that there was room for both. Ultimately this was not to be the case.

John Mather was also a longstanding member of the Victorian Academy of Arts and worked towards bringing the two organisations together. In March 1888 the Academy and the Association amalgamated. On John Mather's motion, seconded by John Ford Paterson, the amalgamated organisation was named the Victorian Artist's Society.

During its early establishment, the Artists’ Society met in a private house in St. Kilda. Its founding members included landscape painter Louis Buvelot, painter Hubert de Castella and etcher J.A. Panton. The Artists’ Society was known for throwing parties and picnics at Brighton. By the 1890s, there were 400 members. He was succeeded by John Mather who held the position for many years. Subsequent presidents included John Ford Paterson, Frederick McCubbin, Walter Withers, F.H. Bruford, W. Montgomery, Max Meldrum, C. Douglas Richardson, Sir John Longstaff, Paul Raphael Montford and Louis McCubbin.

The premises at 430 Albert Street in East Melbourne were erected for the society in 1888, enlarged in 1892, modernised in 1953, and substantially renovated in 1973 and 2015. Facilities include four galleries, teaching studio, members room, offices and other ancillary facilities.

The Artists’ Society was a starting point for young artists of the Heidelberg school, a Victorian impressionist art movement of the 19th century, to exhibit their work and make their first major sales. In 1918 he left the Victorian Artists’ Society to form a separate group in his studio in Hardware Chambers, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, later to become the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society.

Most of the early exhibitors in the Society were women.

Art classes and workshops are offered to a minimum age of 16 and operate in four term sessions a year. Classes include painting, watercolour, pastel, oil, acrylic, drawing, and sculpture.

Membership is restricted to 1000, a figure last reached in 1979, and is open for new members to join for approximately $90.

Exhibitions are held annually, including the seasonal spring, summer, autumn and winter exhibitions, with awards given at each. Every year, the society presents the ‘Mavis Little VAS Artist of the Year Award’ to the artist receiving the most votes from exhibitors through that year.

In 2020, The Victorian Artists’ Society launched an online art gallery called creating the opportunity for local Victorian artists to sell their works to a domestic and international online audience.

In 2020, the Victorian Artists’ Society celebrated their 150th anniversary. The society released with historical information, drawings, and photographs, titled ‘Victorian Artists Society 1870 – 2020 Celebrating 150 Years’, edited by Rosemary Noble. Celebrating 150 years of the Artists’ Society on March 10, 2020, the Governor of Victoria, Linda Dessau AC, in her speech remarked that “almost every notable Australian painter from the late 19th to early 20th centuries was associated with the VAS. Fortunately for the people of Victoria, and thanks to the National Gallery of Victoria, many of their works grace the walls at Government House.”

Building restoration

thumb|The Victorian Artists' Society building, Albert Street, [[East Melbourne]]

thumb|Victorian Artist Society 2026 view from the [[Frederick McCubbin|McCubbin Gallery into the Frater Gallery]]

The Victorian Artists’ Society building is Heritage and National Trust listed given its historic importance since 1873, when a grant of land on Albert street became available and allowed for a modest structure. This fundraiser event and multiple others contributed to the money raised for the building restoration. After approximately five years of renovations and $2.5 million raised by both members and donors, the building restoration was complete. He took inspiration for his portraits from the Yarra River and its bridges. After his time at the Victorian Artists Society, Streeton worked for the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 1891. Tom Roberts, alongside Streeton a former member of the Artists’ Society has been called the founder of Australian Impressionism. Both artists regularly exhibited oil paintings. Conder sold this painting to the Art Gallery of New South Wales that same year, before leaving to work with Streeton in Melbourne and joining the Victorian Artists’ Society. After joining the Society, he exhibited paintings ‘Coogee Bay’ 1888, and ‘A Holiday at Mentone’ 1888. Conder, along with Roberts, McCubbin, and Streeton became contributors to The 9 by 5 Impressionism Exhibition in August 1889. This exhibition represented impressions of bushlands and city life during a formative period of national Australian history. Many members of the Victorian Artists Society are also members of the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors.

Similar societies to the Victorian Artists’ Society which provide opportunities and exhibitions for working artists in Victoria include Hawthorn Artist Society, Heidelberg Artists Society, and Twenty Melbourne Painters Society.

Notable members

Founders (1888)

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