Famous Art Galleries – Discover the Top Art Galleries in the World
Is the most famous art gallery also the best art gallery? While this may be up for debate, we have a list of over 25 famous art galleries from around the world that have made it to the top of the list. Included in the list are also the top five art museums you should add to your list of art gallery visits. This article will travel across continents to give you a sense of some of the world’s current favorites.
Table of Contents
- 1 Famous Art Galleries
- 1.1 Pace Gallery (est. 1960)
- 1.2 Lisson Gallery (est. 1967)
- 1.3 Marian Goodman Gallery (est. 1977)
- 1.4 Gagosian Gallery (est. 1980)
- 1.5 Thaddaeus Ropac (est. 1983)
- 1.6 Saatchi Gallery (est. 1985)
- 1.7 Victoria Miro (est. 1985)
- 1.8 Kohn Gallery (est. 1985)
- 1.9 Albemarle Gallery-Pontone Gallery (est. 1986)
- 1.10 Casa Triângulo (est. 1988)
- 1.11 Perrotin (est. 1990)
- 1.12 Hauser & Wirth (est. 1992)
- 1.13 David Zwirner (est. 1993)
- 1.14 White Cube (est. 1993)
- 1.15 Greene Naftali (est. 1995)
- 1.16 Lehmann Maupin (est. 1996)
- 1.17 Galleria Moretti (est. 1999)
- 1.18 Didi Gallery (est. 2003)
- 1.19 Pearl Lam Galleries (est. 2005)
- 1.20 Chroma Fine Art Gallery (est. 2010)
- 1.21 Addis Fine Art (est. 2016)
- 1.22 Lévy Gorvy (est. 2017)
- 1.23 The Art Design Project (est. 2019)
- 2 The World’s Most Iconic Art Museums
- 3 Frequently Asked Questions
Famous Art Galleries
So, what makes an art gallery famous? The most obvious answer is the type of collection it houses in connection with whether or not “big industry names” such as Vincent van Gogh, Jackson Pollock, and Andy Warhol are associated with it.
This list of famous art galleries will give you a broader understanding of the key factors that come into play that determine what makes an art gallery famous.
Pace Gallery (est. 1960)
Established | 1960 |
Founder | Arne Glimcher |
Location(s) | New York, London, East Hampton, Seoul, Hong Kong, Palm Beach, Palo Alto, Geneva |
Size (m²) | 15,000 |
Established in Boston in 1960, Pace Gallery is associated with some of the best industry-leading artists such as Jeff Koons, David Hockney, and Christo. With more than 150 staff members scattered across multiple locations, Pace Gallery has been lauded for its vast array of artists in celebration of United States heritage and representation of art movements around Abstract Expressionism, Space, and Light.
Pace Gallery is also known for its incredible support of Contemporary artists, including dynamic art programs, public installations, and cross-collaboration with various institutions.
In addition to the cultural diversity, Pace Gallery’s reputation for art books has risen since its establishment with the gallery publishing more than 500 works. What makes the inclusion of Pace Gallery a famous art gallery is the fact that they have utilized new business models, tools, and programs to lead its investigation into the intersections between technology and the arts.
Artists engaged in technologically innovative practices would do well to try to catch the attention of Pace Gallery.
Lisson Gallery (est. 1967)
Established | 1967 |
Founder | Nicholas Logsdail |
Location(s) | London, Milan, New York |
Size (m²) | 1,400 |
Acknowledged as a pioneering representative of conceptual art and minimalism, Lisson Gallery made its entrance on the art scene in 1967, launching the art careers of various artists such as Sol LeWitt and Robert Ryman.
To further emphasize the grasp that Lisson Gallery had on the London Art scene, it eventually incorporated many famous sculptors like Anish Kapoor and even global icons such as John Akomfrah, Marina Abramović, and Tatsuo Miyajima.
The exterior of the Lisson Gallery in London, United Kingdom; Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The young Nicholas Logsdail built Lisson Gallery from scratch, starting with a three-story renovation project with his close friends on Bell Street. Later on, Logsdail was even invited by Yoko Ono to her home, where not long after, the artist held her Half-A-Wind Show in the very same year of the gallery opening.
Marian Goodman Gallery (est. 1977)
Established | 1977 |
Founder | Marian Goodman |
Location(s) | New York, Paris, London |
Size (ft²) | 13,000 |
“Art…is a dialogue. The artists I represent come from different backgrounds and generations, but I feel they are artists who have the ability to root their work in reality in one form or another.” This is a statement by Marian Goodman, founder of Marian Goodman Gallery, first based in New York City for the purpose of exhibiting the work of artist Marcel Broodthaers.
At present, the gallery represents more than 40 artists, both European, American, and other global artists.
Gagosian Gallery (est. 1980)
Established | 1980 |
Founder | Larry Gagosian |
Location(s) | New York, Paris, London, Basel, Geneva, Athens, Rome, Beverly Hills, Hong Kong, Le Bourget |
Size (m²) | 20,000 |
Gallery Type | Mega gallery, contemporary, modern art gallery |
Opened in 1980 by director and founder, Larry Gagosian, the Gagosian Gallery is a famous art gallery known for being one of the world’s largest art galleries to exist. During the gallery’s start-up phase, it showcased works by artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and other new Contemporary artists.
The Los Angeles-based gallery soon became an international gallery in 2000 with the establishment of three new galleries in London.
ABCED (2013) installation view at Gagosian Gallery on Madison Avenue in New York City, United States; Paul Soulellis, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Now boasting more than 17 different galleries, Gagosian Gallery has exhibition spaces in nine different locations, including Hong Kong, New York, Rome, and Geneva. The gallery has featured many of our century’s greatest artists, including Richard Serra, Jeff Koons, Francis Bacon, Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami, Cy Twombly, and Barnett Newman.
With thousands of visitors pouring into the space each year and holding the title as one of the first galleries to set up a publishing house, it is not hard to see why they are so popular.
Thaddaeus Ropac (est. 1983)
Established | 1983 |
Founder | Thaddaeus Ropac |
Location(s) | London, Seoul, Paris, Salzburg |
Size (m²) | 12,000 |
Austrian gallerist Thaddaeus Ropac launched his first gallery in 1981, with the Thaddaeus Ropac gallery in 1983 as the official launch in Salzburg. Coupled with Ropac’s curatorial mastery, he not only drove participation in some of the world’s major art fairs but also serves as a consultant to many public and private institutions.
One of the gallery’s exhibition spaces in London was once the home of the Bishop of Ely and consisted of five floors and 12,000 m².
Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac in Salzburg, Austria; Lepus-rex-007, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Thaddaeus Ropac gallery is also famous for its collaborative persona, featuring a publishing house and multiple programs aimed at broadening the discourse of art history through collaboration with curators, writers, and historians in the arts. This contemporary art gallery is quality-production-centric and produces almost 40 exhibitions each year.
Among the famous artists involved in their program are Alex Katz, Anselm Kiefer, and Georg Baselitz.
Saatchi Gallery (est. 1985)
Established | 1985 |
Founder | Charles Saatchi |
Location(s) | London |
Size (m²) | 2,800 |
In the spirit of collaboration and generosity, Saatchi Gallery was established by Charles Saatchi in 1985 and contained works from the businessman’s own collection. Situated in London, Saatchi Gallery is one of the best galleries in the world and received recognition for hosting some of the world’s top artists such as Cy Twombly and Andy Warhol. With an eye for talent, Saatchi is also known for introducing some of the finest 21st-century creators to the art scene, thus amplifying their record of success in talent recognition.
The gallery also presents work in both digital and physical spaces to ensure they cover the accessibility to Contemporary art while catering to diverse groups.
The Saatchi Gallery at the former Duke of York’s Headquarters in Chelsea, London, United Kingdom; Jack Gavigan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Victoria Miro (est. 1985)
Established | 1985 |
Founder | Victoria Marion Miro |
Location(s) | London, Venice |
Size (m²) | 2,000 |
Think Idris Khan, Chantal Joffe, and Tal R. Victoria Miro Gallery is a London-based gallery with multiple international exhibition spaces in London and Venice. Owned by Victoria Miro, the now prestigious British art gallery was first launched in Cork Street by Miro who assumed ownership over the site after the death of famous London art dealer, Robert Fraser. After a battle with the downward turn of the art market in 1991, Miro found a bigger space in East London in 2000, where she helped launch two, now-famous artists, Samantha Johnson, and Jake Chapman.
Miro’s reputation as one of the most trustworthy art dealers in the art world had since skyrocketed and today, the Victoria Miro Gallery is one of the most highly acclaimed British art galleries.
Victoria Miro Gallery in Islington, United Kingdom; Anthony O’Neil / Victoria Miro Gallery, Islington
Kohn Gallery (est. 1985)
Established | 1985 |
Founder | Michael Kohn |
Location(s) | Los Angeles, California |
Size (ft²) | 12,000 |
A former printing press workshop, the Kohn Gallery is considered one of the top art galleries in the world, most famously remembered for its inaugural show starring Campbell’s Soup Boxes by Andy Warhol in 1986.
Other artists who exhibited at Kohn gallery include Ed Moses, Keith Haring, Wallace Berman, and Rosa Loy.
An installation view at the Kohn Gallery in Los Angeles, United States; Elyseryanmcginness, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Celebrities have also gathered at Kohn Gallery in celebration of the gallery’s 25th anniversary, including the likes of Ellen Degeneres, Katy Perry, and many other A-list figures. The gallery was recognized by the Wall Street Journal in 2015 as one of the most important exhibitors of modern art.
Albemarle Gallery-Pontone Gallery (est. 1986)
Established | 1986 |
Founder | Tony Pontone |
Location(s) | London |
Size (ft²) | 2,800 |
Home to Figurative and Hyper-Realist artists, Albemarle Gallery was founded in 1986 by art dealer Mark Glazebrook who took a serious interest in modern British art. After having closed in 1993, the Albemarle Gallery partnered with Pontone Gallery and is now one of the most famous art galleries in London.
During Albemarle Gallery’s first year of opening, the gallery featured around 100 artists.
Today, the gallery has built its reputation via the nature of its exhibitions, showcasing works by artists who challenge aesthetics and are considered “upcoming talent”. Many award-winning artists have exhibited at Albemarle Gallery, including Neil Douglas, Jeongwoong Lee, and Miriam Escofet.
Casa Triângulo (est. 1988)
Established | 1988 |
Founder | Ricardo Trevisan |
Location(s) | Jardins, São Paulo, Brazil |
Size (m²) | 500 |
As one of the first art galleries in Brazil to approach the international art fair scene, Casa Triângulo is a pioneer of experimental art within the gallery environment. Opened in 1988 by Ricardo Trevisan, Casa Triângulo has been a key player in propelling some of Brazil’s best talent, including the works of Albano Afonso, Daniel Lie, Nino Cais, and Paul Setúbal among the list of Contemporary art practitioners.
Casa Triângulo has participated in various international art fairs, including Art Basel Miami Beach, Arco Madrid, Latitude Art Fair, and SP Arte since 2018.
Perrotin (est. 1990)
Established | 1990 |
Founder | Emmanuel Perrotin |
Location(s) | Tokyo, New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Paris, Seoul |
Size (m²) | 7,500 |
21-year-old Emmanuel Perrotin started the Perrotin gallery in Paris in 1990 and is now one of the most famous art galleries in the world. With five spaces in Paris and five other galleries across the world, Perrotin now consists of over 80,700 square feet of space used to showcase the works of well-established international artists such as Claire Tabouret and Takashi Murakami.
Entrance of the Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin at 76, rue de Turenne in Paris, France; LPLT, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In addition to expanding the art repertoire, Perrotin gallery is also a leading gallery in its content production and editorial calendar which is inclusive of educational workshops aimed at art education for kids, videos, a podcast, and panel discussions.
Having participated in over 20 major art fairs such as the Dallas Art Fair and Art Basel, the gallery is set to launch a new 100 m² exhibition space this year at the DIFC in Dubai.
Hauser & Wirth (est. 1992)
Established | 1992 |
Founder | Manuele Wirth, Ian Wirth, Ursula Hauser |
Location(s) | New York, Los Angeles, Somerset, Hong Kong, London, Southampton, St. Moritz, Gstaad, Zurich, Monaco, Rämistrasse, Chilida Leku, Menorca |
Size (m²) | 20,000 |
Gallery Type | Mega gallery, contemporary art gallery |
Zurich-based art gallery, Hauser & Wirth was co-founded in 1992 by Manuele Wirth, Ian Wirth, and Ursula Hauser, who then partnered with President Marc Payot in 2000 and Ewan Venters (CEO) in 2020. Hauser & Wirth currently represents more than 30 estates and artists involved in the gallery’s program, which is focused on sustainability, education, and conservation alongside art, of course.
The gallery’s inaugural exhibition included artists such as Joan Miró and Alexander Calder, held at an Art Deco villa.
Hauser & Wirth Gallery at 196 Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom; Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Today, the gallery houses many European and American Contemporary artists with estates such as The Eva Hesse Estate and The Estate of David Smith. The gallery goes one step further in its mission toward conservation and has become famous for its approach to restoring and re-inventing historical buildings to uplift communities.
Each exhibition at Hauser & Wirth is also paired with multiple educational lectures and programs which further reiterate the gallery’s dedication to art education.
David Zwirner (est. 1993)
Established | 1993 |
Founder | David Zwirner |
Location(s) | London, New York, Paris, Hong Kong |
Size (m²) | 14,000 |
Like the previous mega art galleries, David Zwirner has its foot in many doors, including three spaces in New York. This international gallery is one of the best galleries in New York and has hosted many iconic artists, including the likes of Barbara Kruger, Wolfgang Tillmans, and Marlene Dumas. The gallery represents over 70 art practitioners and estates and has exhibited across the primary and secondary art scene.
Included in the gallery’s program is a publishing segment that was established in 2014 in addition to a podcast and a fine art print publisher, Utopia Editions (2021).
The exterior of the David Zwirner Gallery in London, United Kingdom; See page for author, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
White Cube (est. 1993)
Established | 1993 |
Founder | Jay Jopling |
Location(s) | London, Paris, New York, Hong Kong |
Size (m²) | 12,000 |
You may remember the names of Tracey Emin and Gavin Turk, both having made a profound impact on Contemporary art. These two novel artists held their first one-person exhibitions at White Cube gallery, which was first established in 1993 by art dealer Jay Jopling. White Cube has since received an international commendation for its representation of Young British Artists and currently houses other big names such as Doris Salcedo, Michael Armitage, Bruce Nauman, and Jeff Wall. In 2011,
White Cube was also announced as Europe’s largest commercial gallery after their move to Bermondsey Street involved the renovation of a 58,000-square-foot 70s warehouse.
White Cube Gallery in Bermondsey, London, United Kingdom; Epha3 Lab from London, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Greene Naftali (est. 1995)
Established | 1995 |
Founder | Carol Greene, Gloria Naftali |
Location(s) | New York |
Size (ft²) | 3,300 |
Situated in the Chelsea district of the enigmatic New York City, Greene Naftali is an art gallery focusing on Contemporary art. The gallery was founded in 1995 by art dealers Carol Greene and Gloria Naftali and is considered one of the first few galleries introduced to Chelsea.
Co-founder Carol Greene also serves on many important art organizations such as the Artists Space, as a member of the board of directors.
Greene Naftali is known for its inclusion of multiple forms of media in its exhibitions, including fashion, music, painting, and performance programming. Artists included on Greene Naftali’s roster are Dan Graham, Paul Chan, Tony Conrad, and Rachel Harrison.
Lehmann Maupin (est. 1996)
Established | 1996 |
Founder | Rachel Lehmann, David Maupin |
Location(s) | New York, Seoul, Hong Kong, London, Palm Beach |
Size (m²) | 2000 (New York) |
Gallery Type | Contemporary, mega art gallery |
An excellent example of a mega art gallery focused on groundbreaking representation from across the globe, Lehmann Maupin was established in SoHo in 1996 by two art dealers, Rachel Lehmann and David Maupin, whose main goal was sourcing top Contemporary talents from all around the world. The effort to grow talented international artists was the primary focus of Lehmann Maupin and continues to do so today.
Some of the most famous Contemporary artists have held their first solo exhibitions at Lehmann Maupin. These include artists such as Liu Wei, Robin Rhode, Billy Childish, Lee Bul, Nicholas Hlobo, and many others.
Galleria Moretti (est. 1999)
Established | 1999 |
Founder | Fabrizio Moretti |
Location(s) | Florence, Italy |
Size (m²) | Not available |
Intended to showcase the works of great masters and specifically Tuscan artists, Galleria Moretti was founded in 1999 by Fabrizio Moretti. Since the gallery’s inaugural exhibition, From Bernardo Daddi to Giorgio Vasari, the gallery has opened itself up to private and public collectors.
Along with the gallery’s long-standing history of exhibiting old Italian art, the gallery has also engaged in many international exhibitions across the United States and Europe, including Frieze Masters in London.
Didi Gallery (est. 2003)
Established | 2003 |
Founder | Revaz Zhvaniya |
Location(s) | Saint Petersburg, Russia |
Size (m²) | Not available |
In light of exhibiting “the second wave of Russian Avant-Garde art” and art of the later Soviet period, Didi Gallery was founded in 2003 and is a strong representative of underground art, young talent, and projects involving the exhibition of works by the “old masters”. The gallery hosts a bunch of creatives whose works can be found throughout the world, in private collections and many Russian museums.
Famous Russian artists associated with Didi Gallery include Oleg Tselkov, Dmitry Krasnopevtsev, Mikhail Roginsky, and Edward Steinberg.
Pearl Lam Galleries (est. 2005)
Established | 2005 |
Founder | Pearl Lam |
Location(s) | Hong Kong, Shanghai |
Size (m²) | Not available |
Pearl Lam Galleries is one of the best galleries in the world that demonstrates the cross-cultural conversation between the East and the often regarded, dominant West. Established in 2005 by Chinese Contemporary gallerist Pearl Lam, the gallery made a name for itself as an education-centric institution. You may have heard of the famous Beijing-based sculptor, Ren Ri, and his beeswax sculptures, which formed part of the gallery’s inaugural exhibition.
This memorable sculptural installation greeted visitors with its organic form and caused quite the “buzz”.
Ri made use of the bees on the sculpture by manipulating their movement so that his creations could emerge organically. Pearl Lam Galleries was initially used to introduce Chinese art collectors to the global art market. Thereafter, Lam partook in various efforts to bridge the gap between the East and West, participating in collaborative exhibitions involving Hong Kong’s Design Center, Philip Dodd, and Ren Ri. Lam also founded an organization (China Art Foundation) in 2008 aimed at driving international interest in Contemporary Chinese art.
Pearl Lam Galleries have featured in many global art fairs such as Art Basel Hong Kong, West Bund Art and Design, and Art Cologne.
Chroma Fine Art Gallery (est. 2010)
Established | 2010 |
Founder | Rita Baunok, Gergely Pap |
Location(s) | Katonah, New York |
Size (m²) | Not available |
Located in the cultural hub of Westchester County, Chroma Fine Art Gallery is a cozy, yet famous gallery loved by all art enthusiasts in the area. Featuring works by both local and globally-based artists, Chroma Fine Art Gallery aims to support all artists, whether emerging or well-established. The Hungarian-born founder, Rita Baunok is renowned for her photographic contributions and her work is featured in several collections.
Her son and co-founder, Gergely Pap also plays a major role in ensuring that the gallery portrays a welcoming atmosphere through various means, be it in the gallery or through an online presence.
Addis Fine Art (est. 2016)
Established | 2016 |
Founder | Rakeb Sile, Mesai Haileleu |
Location(s) | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, London |
Size (ft²) | 2,000 (London) |
A fairly recent gallery establishment, Addis Fine Art, is described as one of the most important galleries in the world. Built in 2016, Addis Fine Art gallery has grown to be one of Africa’s best art galleries featuring many local and international Contemporary works.
The gallery serves as a space to help talented artists from the Horn of Africa make their mark in the international art market.
Beyond the lens of launching African artists into the international market, Addis Fine Art also sets the benchmark as a historical institution. Although a recent addition, Addis Fine Art is now a part of Ethiopia’s history of galleries, since previously, it was very limited.
Known as the “first white cube gallery space in Addis”, the gallery has also made its mark in cementing itself as a key proponent in Ethiopian art history.
As of 2021, Addis Fine Art gallery has established a project space in London, where plenty of emerging Contemporary art from Ethiopia can be viewed by international collectors. The gallery has debuted in many global art fairs and shows, including Frieze London, Art Dubai, Frieze New York, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, and The Armory Show.
Lévy Gorvy (est. 2017)
Established | 2017 |
Founder | Dominique Lévy, Brett Gorvy |
Location(s) | New York, London, Palm Beach, Hong Kong, Paris |
Size (ft²) | 2,500 |
Among the most recently established art galleries is Lévy Gorvy gallery, founded in 2017 by art dealer Dominique Lévy and the former head of post-war and Contemporary art at Christie’s, Brett Gorvy. Lévy Gorvy’s rise to fame was furthered by the gallery’s extended agenda of executing ongoing historical research with original scholarship on crucial publications.
Among the list of respected artists, Lévy Gorvy currently represents artists such as Chung Sang-Hwa, Karin Schneider, and Pierre Soulages.
Also being one of the most influential femme art dealers of the century, Dominique Lévy states in an interview with Artfairmag that she had spent 20 years fighting the definition of her profession through gender and she considers herself first and foremost a gallerist over a “woman gallerist”. This was stated in response to a question on how the gallerist viewed her gender about her success.
The Art Design Project (est. 2019)
Established | 2019 |
Founder | Juan Carlos Arcilia-Duque |
Location(s) | Miami Beach, Florida |
Size (m²) | Not available |
Drawing attention to the intersectionality between art and design, the Art Design Project is a gallery that places its focus on locating “alternative” forms of engagement through which it can promote collaboration among established artists and emerging talent.
The Art Design Project gallery features artists such as Alex Hodge, Carla Gimbatti, and Andrés Ferrandis.
The Gallery was founded by Juan Carlos Arcilia-Duque who is considered to be one of the most talented photographers in Miami. He is also one of the first individuals to lead the curation of retrospective exhibitions at the Forbes Museum. Additionally, the gallery is praised for its incredible and unique cultural programs.
Some of the gallery collaborations that the Art Design Project engaged in include exhibitions with Leica Gallery, Soho Beach House, Poltrona Frau, and Armani Casa.
The World’s Most Iconic Art Museums
We have covered a few of the top art galleries in the world and you may have noticed that the fame and reach of an art gallery is closely connected to the works and artists it has been associated with. Now it is time to take a look at some of the best art museums and why they are worth the visit.
Luckily, we have narrowed it down to the top five famous art museums.
Musée du Louvre (est. 1793)
Established | Late 12-13th century |
Architects | Pierre Lescot, Claude Perrault, Louis Le Vau |
Location(s) | Paris, France |
Size (ft²) | 782,910 |
Visitors | +2.8 Million (2021) |
Famous for being the home of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, this medieval museum started as a gigantic fortress and over time has progressed into what we call “The Louvre”. The Musée du Louvre was converted into a museum in 1793 and today stands as the most visited art institution in the world.
The Louvre receives millions of visitors each year, with the highest recorded numbers at 10.2 million in 2018.
The Louvre Museum’s iconic pyramid in the center of the Napoleon courtyard; Charlotte.vermersch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
During the museum’s inaugural years, it exhibited many paintings and artworks that were considered part of the royal collection and even confiscated items of the Church. Before this in 1692, the Louvre served as a private exhibition space for Louis XVI’s Roman and Greek sculptures. Over time, the collection of the building grew, acquiring an additional 20 000 artworks by 1830.
The collection at the museum consists of eight different divisions, curated into paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints, decorative, Islamic art, and various Eastern, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities and art objects.
At present, the museum houses over 35 000 artworks with an estimated 380 thousand art objects.
Museo Nacional Del Prado (est. 1819)
Established | 1819 |
Architect | Juan de Villanueva |
Location(s) | Madrid, Spain |
Visitors | 852,161 |
Size (ft²) | +61 500 |
Forming part of the golden art triangle, Museo Nacional Del Prado is one of the best art museums to visit among its neighbors, the Museo Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. The Prado Museum is a significant art institution not only because it is one of the major art museums in Spain, but it is also a display of artworks made by artists who are affiliated with Spanish royalty.
The museum holds the largest collection of the works of Diego Velazquez, a prominent figure of the Spanish Golden Age and an inspirational figure to the later masters, Dalí, and Picasso.
The Museo Nacional Del Prado in the painting, The Grand Salon, the Prado (c. 19th century), by Francisco Aznar; Francisco Aznar, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The collection is composed of 7600 paintings and over 8200 drawings in addition to historical papers and other artworks. A popular destination for many tourists, the museum was placed 16th in 2020 among the frequently visited museums in the world.
The Museum of Modern Art (est. 1929)
Established | 1929 |
Architect(s) | Yoshio Taniguchi, Philip Goodwin, Edward Durell Stone |
Location(s) | Manhattan, New York City |
Visitors | +1.1 million |
Size (m²) | 65,800 |
Ideated and built by “the adamantine ladies” in 1929, the New York Museum of Modern Art is a name familiar to all. Abby Rockefeller, Lillie Bliss, and Mary Sullivan came together in a brave act following the crash of the New York Stock Exchange and developed, what is known today, as one of the world’s leading art museums. The museum has since held the works of many champions of art history and modern art, including a Vincent van Gogh exhibition in 1935.
The art museum was then bolstered into the global art narrative through its retrospective on Picasso, which ran from 1939 to 1940.
The interior of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, United States; Andrew Milligan sumo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Along with the museum’s fame came its fair share of turbulence. The museum was partial to controversy, which was not uncommon in the history of great institutions. In one instance, the museum received public backlash for withdrawing funding from a poster designed against the war in Vietnam. The poster And Babies contained visual imagery derived from the My Lai Massacre, as captured by photojournalist Ronald Haeberle.
The museum had initially agreed to publish and support the project but instead withdrew further funding after the poster’s first release.
Thereafter, the museum had undergone many renovations, which also sparked criticism regarding the museum’s design by Yoshio Taniguchi. The Museum of Modern Art now represents more than 13 thousand artists, including classic masterpieces such as The Bather (1885) by Paul Cézanne, The Dance (1910) by Henri Matisse, Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair (1940) by Frieda Kahlo, and The Persistence of Memory (1931) by Salvador Dalí.
Musée d’Orsay (est. 1986)
Established | 1986 |
Architect(s) | Gae Aulenti, Victor Laloux, Jean-Paul Philippon, Lucien Magne, Émile Bénard, Pierre Colboc, Renaud Bardon |
Location(s) | Paris, France |
Visitors | 1 million (2021) |
Size (m²) | 20.000 |
The Musée d’Orsay opened its doors to the public in 1986 after receiving a complete revamp from its former state as the Orsay railway station. This is what also makes the museum quite special, in that it can be considered its own artwork – or at least some would say it is the first.
The Musée d’Orsay is an age-old cornerstone of the art world known for holding the largest collection of French artworks spanning the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist eras.
The interior of the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France; Sandor Laza, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Just to touch base, some of the most prized masterpieces are in the safety of Musée d’Orsay. These include works by the “old masters” such as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Cézanne, van Gogh, and Renoir.
London: Tate Modern (est. 2000)
Established | 2000 |
Architect(s) | Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron |
Location | London |
Visitors | 5.9 million (2018) |
Inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II herself and with over a century’s worth of modern art, Tate Modern was transformed from an old power station into one of the UK’s leading art institutions. In addition to its free admission policy, the Tate Modern also received millions worth of visitors each year.
It is also the host of some of the art world’s greatest pioneers of modern art, including Pablo Picasso, Absalon, Marina Abramovic, and Ai Wei.
The Tate Modern’s Bankside Artist Rooms, with a Louise Bourgeois exhibition, displaying Spider (1994) amongst other works; Fred Romero from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tate Modern also offers tons of insights into their programs, artist information, and art historical research, giving collectors, students, and art lovers as much information as possible. The museum also boasts a superb selection of podcasts.
These introduce pertinent questions of the 21st century and numerous topics that you might have missed in art class.
The museum has hosted quite a few showstopping exhibitions, including the works of Henri Matisse in 2014 and Joan Jonas in 2018. Other top-tier artworks in the collection include Forgotten Horizon (1936) by Salvador Dali and Composition B (No. II) with Red (1935) by Piet Mondrian.
As seen above, there are hordes of famous art institutions to choose from when it comes to visiting the works of some of the most iconic artists of art history. The list goes on to include other art institutions such as the National Gallery in London, the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the State Hermitage Museum in Russia, the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art in South Africa.
Take a look at our art galleries webstory here!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is an Art Gallery?
An art gallery is an art institution made available to the public. An art gallery is run with an art program, curators, and gallery directors who collaborate with artists and various art organizations on the sale, exchange, collection, publicity, and exhibition of artworks.
What Do Famous Art Galleries Have in Common?
The most famous art galleries all house famous artworks by significant artists. These art galleries receive thousands to millions of visitors each year and possess an extensive, robust art program.
What Is the World’s Largest Art Gallery?
The world’s largest art gallery is a mega art gallery called the Gagosian, based in New York. The gallery has international spaces in multiple locations such as Paris, Hong Kong, Beverly Hills, and many other sites.
Justin van Huyssteen is a freelance writer, novelist, and academic originally from Cape Town, South Africa. At present, he has a bachelor’s degree in English and literary theory and an honor’s degree in literary theory. He is currently working towards his master’s degree in literary theory with a focus on animal studies, critical theory, and semiotics within literature. As a novelist and freelancer, he often writes under the pen name L.C. Lupus.
Justin’s preferred literary movements include modern and postmodern literature with literary fiction and genre fiction like sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, and horror being of particular interest. His academia extends to his interest in prose and narratology. He enjoys analyzing a variety of mediums through a literary lens, such as graphic novels, film, and video games.
Justin is working for artincontext.org as an author and content writer since 2022. He is responsible for all blog posts about architecture, literature and poetry.
Learn more about Justin van Huyssteen and the Art in Context Team.
Cite this Article
Justin, van Huyssteen, “Famous Art Galleries – Discover the Top Art Galleries in the World.” Art in Context. August 6, 2022. URL: https://artincontext.org/famous-art-galleries/
van Huyssteen, J. (2022, 6 August). Famous Art Galleries – Discover the Top Art Galleries in the World. Art in Context. https://artincontext.org/famous-art-galleries/
van Huyssteen, Justin. “Famous Art Galleries – Discover the Top Art Galleries in the World.” Art in Context, August 6, 2022. https://artincontext.org/famous-art-galleries/.