Judith Russo has opened the communal gallery Artspace 2515 in Thirroul Plaza, showcasing 25 artists in 15 weeks in a space "gifted" by the landlord.

"Every booking I had got cancelled and I just fell into a deep hole like most people would have at the start of [lockdown]," Ms Russo said.

"As a creative outlet I needed something and I've always loved landscape photography but I never made the effort to get out of bed really early.

"I saw this as an opportunity for me to get out of the house - I have two kids and home-schooling them - and I just needed a bit of time to myself."

Read more: 'It'd be a dream to get it on Netflix': Talented Dapto duo's new animated series

Ms Russo said there were fabulous "high end" and more "selective" galleries around the area, but nothing feasible to promote someone without a folio of years and years worth of art (like herself).

The pop-up gallery is set to fill the void left by a lack of exhibition opportunities and will capitalise on summer tourism, helping struggling creatives make a dollar.

"Timing-wise it's excellent because I think summer is going to be busy," she said.

"Tourism from Sydney is going to be huge this summer because nobody's going anywhere."

Read more: Sunset Cinema returns for summer nights at Wollongong Botanic Garden

Artspace 2515 will a range of artworks in different mediums from $200 up to the thousands, and rotate every two weeks.

There will be a mixture of illustrations, photography, paintings, fabric art and a special show featuring artists who finished their HSC this year.

Joining Ms Russo in the first exhibition are painter and visual artist Daniel Breda and painter Alison Lawther.

"I still love my events photography, but there are no events," she said.

"Even if the events do come back, it's a luxury not a necessity."

It comes as similar, but permanent, venture has opened in Terralong Street of Kiama - the Terra Art Gallery - which also showcases a range of different artists and works from around the Illawarra.