Seoul’s 10 Best Contemporary Art Galleries: Top Independent Venues

Seoul’s pioneering and innovative spirit has influenced the city’s art scene, which has grown exponentially in the last decade. With several art districts to explore, Seoul has something to offer to every kind of art lover. From Samcheong-dong, an area overflowing with galleries, to Hyoja-dong, home to the city’s cutting-edge arts organizations, here are the ten best independent galleries in South Korea’s capital.

Gallery Hyundai
Art Gallery
PKM Gallery
Building, Concert Hall, Theatre

Gallery FACTORY
Gallery FACTORY
On the other side of Geongbokgung Palace, Hyoja-dong is a historical area that is fast growing into a creative hub to rival Samcheong. This is where Gallery FACTORY, a small but punchy avant-garde space, has established itself as a steadfast presence on the city’s advancing art scene. Originally founded as Factory Arts & Crafts by Bora Hong in 2002, the gallery narrowed its originally broad focus of presenting cutting-edge art when it moved to its current location and changed its name in 2005. Since then, it has worked hard to develop audience participation through workshops and talks, as well as engaging in art consultation, public art projects, publications and international exchange programs. This is a great place to discover the experimental work of up-and-coming artists based in Korea.
Gallery FACTORY, Jahamunro 10 gil 15, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea, +82 2 733 4883

Gallery Factory, Seoul, South Korea © Gallery FACTORY
Leeahn Gallery
Leeahn Gallery is an influential Daegu-based institution, best known for its central role in developing the arts scene in the metropolitan city of Daegu and introducing internationally renowned artists to local audiences. The Seoul branch, a modern, sleek building designed by Suh Architects, opened in March 2013 to some controversy. Local residents were not keen on the Antony Gormley figure perched on the rooftop. One of the first shows at the Seoul space was an exhibition of the renowned conceptual painter David Salle, his first time exhibiting in the country. Leeahn Gallery’s ambitious programming will no doubt continue to feature the world’s major artists, further enriching and opening up Korea’s cultural identity.

Project Space SARUBIA
Established in 1999, Project Space SARUBIA is an alternative space for experimental art across the genres of fine art, architecture, music, dance and film. This non-profit gallery started its life in Insa-dong, in the former site of the SARUBIA Coffee Shop, which used to be an important artists’ haunt. The gallery devotes itself to pioneering new concepts and practices, and incubating the talents of undiscovered artists, who are selected through an open application process. The basement setting of the gallery has a relaxed and intimate atmosphere, which is ideal for sampling Seoul’s thriving alternative art scene and discovering the next big thing in Korean art.

Leeum – Samsung Museum of Art
Museum, Building

Artside Gallery
Artside Gallery
Artside Gallery is notable for its focus on contemporary Chinese art and artists. Established in 1999, Artside introduced artists such as Wang Guangi, Yue Minjun, Zhou Chunya, Zeng Fanzhi and Zeng Hao to Korean audiences. Since then, the gallery has taken on a leading role in the artistic exchange between Korea and China, and garnered international attention for hosting the first solo exhibition of artist Zhang Xiaogang in the country. In 2007, Artside opened a gallery space in Beijing, and in 2010 relocated its Seoul gallery to Hyoja-dong. Amongst this expansion, the gallery’s vision remains intact – to present the best in Chinese and Asian avant-garde as a way to encourage understanding and creativity across Asian art.
Artside Gallery, 33 Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea, +82 2 725 1020

© Artside Gallery
Gallery Yeh
Art Gallery

SongEun ArtSpace
The Cheongdam area of the affluent Gangnam district is fast developing into a cool and vibrant hub of galleries, high-end fashion and culture. In the heart of this, SongEun ArtSpace is an innovative gallery, founded in 2010 by the SongEun Art and Cultural Foundation. This large building houses three levels of exhibition space, a café-cum-restaurant, and a multifunctional event hall in the basement. Past exhibitions have included retrospectives of Tom Wesselmann and the Chapman Brothers, as well as solo exhibitions of Korean artists such as Sung Myung Chun and Sekyung Lee. The foundation also runs the SongEun ArtCube, in the SAMTAN office building, and the annual SongEun ArtAward, with the aim of supporting emerging Korean artists.
SongEun ArtCube, Samtan Bldg Lobby, 421 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea, +82 2 3448 0100

Gana Art Center
Gana Art Center
The beautiful residential area of Pyeongchang, at the foot of Mount Bukhan, is home to some of the country’s oldest and most influential galleries. Among them is Gana Art, a modern complex designed by celebrated architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte with the largest exhibition space in the country. Founded in 1983, Gana Art has presented over 400 exhibitions of Korean and international art over its long history, including prominent artists such as Pierre Alechinsky, Roy Lichtenstein and Joan Miro. The center continues to showcase a diverse range of art, as well as hosting performances and open-air concerts. Since 2001, the centre has also hosted the annual International Photo-Media Festival. The high quality of curation at Gana Art as well as varied and exciting group shows, means that this gallery is still a formidable presence on the Seoul art landscape.
Gana Art Seoul, 97 Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea, +82 2 720 1020

© Gana Art Center
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