You don’t have to be an art expert to enjoy the best art galleries in Glasgow!
I find visiting art galleries to be one of the best ways to take a break from everyday routine. Walking through a space filled with creativity is just inspiring and refreshing.
Don’t be intimidated; you don’t need to be an art expert to enjoy a gallery! Just a bit of curiosity is enough.
If you’re just starting your art appreciation journey and are curious about both traditional and modern art, these are the best local art galleries to check out!
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
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Website: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/
Address: Argyle St
Phone: +44 141 276 9599
Operating Hours: Open daily – 10 AM to 5 PM
Admission Fee: FREE
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum opened in 1901 and has 22 galleries with art, historical artefacts, and natural history displays. It features Scottish heritage and global works, including artefacts from Ancient Egypt!
I made a point to visit “Putting Ourselves in the Picture” to see the portraits and stories of migrants who have contributed to Glasgow. The exhibition showed how migration shapes the city and how their experiences deserve more recognition.
Pro Tips:
- Plan your visit around the daily organ recitals at 1 PM and 3 PM to hear the Centre Hall come to life with music.
- After exploring the gallery, stop by the on-site KG Coffee Shop for a break and a good cup of coffee.
Gallery of Modern Art (GoMa)
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Website: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk
Address: 111 Queen St, Royal Exchange Square
Phone: +44 141 287 3050
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday, Saturday – 10 AM to 5 PM
- Friday & Sunday – 11 AM to 5 PM
Admission Fee: FREE
The Gallery of Modern Art is Glasgow’s primary contemporary art gallery and is popular for its Duke of Wellington statue outside, often topped peculiarly with a traffic cone! It highlights local and international works, with changing exhibitions on social issues.
I visited GoMa while the “Our Power” exhibition was on display, which expressed the mental health impact of discrimination. It featured textiles, drawings, painting, and installations created by people with lived experiences of racism.
Pro Tips:
- Stop by GoMa’s Saturday Art Club for hands-on workshops in the rooftop studio, with no booking needed. Every Saturday at 10:30 AM, kids aged 5 to 12 can explore different art techniques inspired by the gallery’s exhibits.
- The library at GoMa is a great spot to relax and enjoy a good book, with thousands of titles to explore!
Hunterian Art Gallery
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Website: https://www.gla.ac.uk/hunterian/visit/our-venues/art-gallery/
Address: University of Glasgow, 82 Hillhead St
Phone: +44 141 330 4221
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM
Admission Fee: FREE
The Hunterian Art Gallery, founded in 1807, is Scotland’s oldest public museum and holds a large collection of paintings, prints, and sculptures. It features works by renowned artists like Rembrandt and Whistler.
When I visited the gallery, I spent most of my time in the Mackintosh Collection, which showcases his designs, furniture, and artwork. Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a Scottish architect known for his influence on modern European design.
Pro Tips:
- There’s no indoor space for eating at the gallery, but you can use the benches in the Main Building Quad. For more food options, cafes on campus or nearby Byres Road and Ashton Lane are just a short walk away.
- Visit the Hunterian Art Gallery Shop for books and gifts.
The Burrell Collection
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Website: https://burrellcollection.com/
Address: Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Rd, Bellahouston
Phone: +44 141 287 2550
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday, Saturday – 10 AM to 5 PM
- Friday & Sunday – 11 AM to 5 PM
Admission Fee: FREE
The Burrell Collection is one of the most important civic museum collections in the UK, located in Pollok Country Park. It holds 9,000 objects, including medieval tapestries, Chinese pottery, and paintings by artists like Manet and Cézanne.
I was drawn to Cézanne’s “The Château of Médan,” an oil painting on canvas from around 1879–1880. To find it, look for the painting that shows a riverside scene with tall trees and rows of buildings standing by the calm water.
Pro Tip:
Pollok Country Park has plenty to explore, such as woodland trails, bike routes, a play area, and hidden fairy houses. One of my highlights here was getting a close look at the iconic Highland cows.
House for an Art Lover
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Website: https://www.houseforanartlover.co.uk/
Address: 10 Dumbreck Rd, Bellahousto
Phone: +44 141 483 1600
Operating Hours: Open daily – 10 AM to 5 PM
Admission Fee:
- Adults – £9.00
- Children/Concessions/Students – £7.50
- Children Under 10 (must be accompanied by an adult) – Free
- Family (2 Adults + 2 Children) – £24.00
- Groups (10+ Adults) – £8.50/person
The House for an Art Lover is a unique cultural space, designed from Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s early 20th-century plans. It houses a public museum, exhibition spaces, educational areas, a cafe, and a function suite.
Years ago, I explored the “Objects in Colour” exhibition by Alison Harley, which featured silk-screen printed panels and sculptural forms. The highlight for me was how the three-dimensional pieces seemed to shift in depth depending on where I stood.
Pro Tip:
Visit in spring or summer to see the gardens at House for an Art Lover bursting with colourful blooms. Another great time to visit is autumn when the surrounding parkland transforms with rich reds and golds.
Tramway
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Website: https://www.tramway.org/
Address: 25 Albert Dr
Phone: +44 141 276 0950
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Friday, Sunday – 11 AM to 5 PM
- Saturday – 11 AM to 6 PM
Admission Fee: FREE
Tramway is a large arts venue in Glasgow with a gallery, a performance space, and a cafe. It used to be a tram depot back in 1896, later became the Museum of Transport, and is now a hub for contemporary art.
I went to see “You are my Kindred Spirit,” an exhibition about exploring identity and history, and I found it deeply moving. It showcased photos of childhood memories, films of family life in Scotland and Ghana, and sound installations in the Scots dialect.
Pro Tip:
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the venue, so you can stay connected while exploring the gallery or enjoying the cafe.
The Modern Institute
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Website: https://www.themoderninstitute.com/
Address: 14-20 Osborne St
Phone: +44 141 248 3711
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday – 10 AM to 6 PM
- Saturday – 12 PM to 5 PM
Admission Fee: FREE
The Modern Institute is home to a roster of internationally recognised artists like Martin Boyce, Cathay Wilkes, and Nicolas Party. But even if you’re not up on who’s who, it’s worth stepping inside to see what’s on.
Before January 2025 ended, Michael Wilkinson’s “Still Life with Blank Canvas” exhibition kicked off. The display used elements like light, texture, and illusion to give classic floral subjects a contemporary twist.
Pro Tip:
Swing by the gallery shop to find unique prints from artists like Lisa Alvarado and Martin Boyce.
Centre for Contemporary Arts
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Website: https://www.cca-glasgow.com/
Address: 350 Sauchiehall St
Phone: +44 141 352 4900
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 10 AM to 11 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 10 AM to 12 AM
Admission Fee: FREE
The Centre for Contemporary Arts has kept things interesting with a variety of exhibitions and performances showcasing Glasgow’s lively art scene.
I had the chance to catch “Jalsaghar”, an exhibition that brought together sculptures, textile arts, and colourful cushions reflecting the artist’s British-Bengali identity. The opening was extra special with a live performance of Bengali-inspired music.
Pro Tip:
Some exhibitions offer audio descriptions and an audio version of the exhibition text. Simply scan the QR code at the gallery doors to access them.
Transmission Gallery
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Website: https://transmissiongallery.org/
Address: 28 King St
Phone: +44 141 552 7141
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Sunday – 11 AM to 5 PM
At some corners of Glasgow streets, you may find a grand, historic sandstone building with a sign reading “TRANSMISSION.” And no, it’s not a hub for radio signals but an art gallery displaying contemporary works.
I remember visiting “Bloodsound,” where I saw a large sound system sculpture that immediately drew my attention. The piece highlighted the history of Caribbean sound systems and reflected the resilience and cultural impact of Black sonic technologies.
Pro Tip:
The gallery is easy to reach by train, bus, bike, or car. Argyle Street station is just a 10-minute walk from Central Station, and there’s public parking nearby on King St.
Nicolls Glasgow
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Website: https://www.nicollsglasgow.com/
Address: 656 Dumbarton Rd
Phone: +44 141 334 2728
Operating Hours: Depends on exhibition schedule
Admission Fee: FREE
Nicolls is an art space run by a mother-daughter duo, Hilary and Zoe, that showcases both local and international artists. They offer a great selection for those looking to buy unique pieces.
While we can’t all experience the thrill of uncovering ancient geological wonders, the “Earth Made” exhibition brought that sense of discovery to life. I saw detailed prints, handcrafted jewellery, and textiles inspired by Scottish landscapes and rocks.
Pro Tip:
Check out the shop section on Nicoll’s website to browse and buy original artworks online.
David Dale Gallery
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Website: https://www.daviddalegallery.co.uk/
Address: 161 Broad St
Phone: +44 141 258 9124
Operating Hours: Friday & Saturday – 12 PM to 6 PM
David Dale Gallery is a contemporary art space in Glasgow that supports new work, artist residencies, and international exhibitions. Housed in a former college building, it also provides a studio hub for artists to experiment and develop their work.
One of my favourite exhibits was “Where I’m Calling From”, an eerie and immersive installation by Minne Kersten. It has a haunting attic-like setting with moth-patterned wallpaper and scattered objects to show the boundary between memory and reality.
Pro Tip:
To reserve a studio space, reach out to [email protected]. Studios come with 24-hour access, Wi-Fi, and natural light.
Glasgow Print Studio
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Website: https://www.gpsart.co.uk/
Address: 103 Trongate
Phone: +44 141 552 0704
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Saturday – 10 AM to 5:30 PM
Admission Fee: FREE
Glasgow Print Studio is a great place to see and learn about printmaking. They support artists with workshops, exhibitions, and a gallery where you can find everything from traditional etchings to modern digital prints.
A while back, I visited “Uncharted 1985–2025” by Murray Robertson, which explored his journey as a printmaker. His work, inspired by maps and travel, showed how printmaking can capture movement and memory with depth and precision.
Pro Tip:
Enrol in GPS’s courses for beginners and intermediates to explore etching, screenprinting, woodcutting, and more.
Street Level Photoworks
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Website: https://www.streetlevelphotoworks.org/
Address: 103 Trongate
Phone: +44 141 552 2151
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 12 PM to 5 PM
Admission Fee: FREE
At Street Level Photoworks, you’ll find different styles of photography, from classic black-and-white portraits to experimental digital works. Expect a space where different perspectives and stories come to life through images.
One of the most memorable exhibitions I’ve seen here was “Rebels & Renegades” by Jill Furmanovsky. Her photos captured the raw energy of punk and rock music, featuring legendary artists like The Clash, Blondie, and Oasis.
Pro Tip:
A membership at Street Level Photoworks gives you access to film processing and photography facilities. It also includes discounts on courses, books, and prints, plus the chance to connect with other photographers.
Compass Gallery
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Website: https://compassgallery.co.uk/
Address: 178 W Regent St
Phone: +44 141 221 6370
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday – 10 AM to 5 PM
- Saturday – 11 AM to 4 PM
Compass Gallery has been a key part of Scotland’s art scene since 1969. The gallery supports both new and established artists, and it hosts a range of changing exhibitions, including solo shows and themed collections.
Neil MacPherson’s “Life is a Strange Place” exhibition in 2024 was unforgettable, especially for me, who appreciates art with strong storytelling. His paintings are full of vivid colours and striking imagery, drawing from history, myths, and the Scottish landscape.
Pro Tip:
You can book an individual appointment for a personalised experience and a more relaxed visit. It’s a great way to explore the collection at your own pace.
Annan Gallery
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Website: https://annanart.com/
Address: 164 Woodlands Rd
Phone: +44 141 332 0028
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday – 10 AM to 5 PM
- Saturday – 10 AM to 5:30 PM
- Sunday – 12 PM to 4 PM
Admission Fee: FREE
Established back in 1855, the Annan Gallery specialises in Scottish art, featuring paintings, ceramics, glass, and sculptures. It showcases major Scottish art movements and continues to highlight the city’s contemporary artists.
A while back, I visited the Summer Show, the gallery’s largest annual exhibition. It featured landscapes, still life, and abstract works, and I was especially drawn by Davy Brown’s “Harbour at Dusk,” a bold painting of a serene waterfront with colourful boats.
Pro Tip:
The gallery has an Own Art scheme that lets you pay for artwork in instalments, so it’s more affordable. That way, you can take home a piece you love without paying everything upfront.