Vilnius’ Top 10 Contemporary Art Galleries You Should Visit

Contemporary Art Centre, Vokieciu st. 2, Vilnius, Lithuania, +370 5 260 8960

Housed in a striking modernist building from the 1980s, the National Gallery of Art is a branch of the Lithuanian Art Museum. The gallery displays an extensive collection of 20th and 21st-century Lithuanian art in ten rooms. Arranged in chronological order, each room is themed around the prevalent styles and cultural influences of a defined historical period. The venue’s Grand Exhibition Hall also showcases the work of internationally based artists like Kęstutis Zapkus, one of the best known Lithuanian painters living in the USA. In addition, a 150-seat auditorium plays host to lectures, conferences, cultural events and film screenings. Other facilities include an information center, containing the most comprehensive national archive relating to Lithuanian artists.

National Gallery of Art, Konstitucijos pr. 22, Vilnius, Lithuania, +370 5 212 2997

In 1990 Juškus Gallery opened in the center of the Old Town of Vilnius, next to Sereikiškės Park. Its main ambition has been to present elite Lithuanian and Baltic artists of the last century. However, the gallery’s scope is not limited to the 20th century, additionally endeavoring to showcase contemporary art in its program. Past exhibitions have featured renowned national artists, like expressionist painter Raimondas Martinėnas, and painter and former sculptor Aloyzas Smilingis. Juškus Gallery has also organized international shows and displayed work in an interesting range of venues, including churches, operas, music theaters, museums, and banks. Furthermore, its courtyard is sometimes the location for outdoor exhibitions and classical music concerts.

Juškus Gallery, Barboros Radvilaitės st. 6b, Vilnius, Lithuania, +370 5 212 6611

Titanikas is the name of the exhibition hall belonging to the Vilnius Academy of Arts, the largest and oldest art university in the Baltics. It focuses on modern art, design, and graphics, hosting a diverse variety of exhibitions. Past displays at Titanikas have included collage and paintings by Vincas Kisarauskas, and an individualistic approach to neo-expressionism by Aistė Kirvelytė. The Vilnius Academy of Arts also exhibits new forms of textile art in the city’s ARTIFEX gallery, showcases jewelry at ARgenTum, preserves the traditions of folk art and weaving at Židinys (A. and A. Tamošaitis Gallery), and presents further visual art at Akademija.

Titanikas, Maironio st. 3, Vilnius, Lithuania, + 370 5 210 0136

Displaying art from the 1960s to the present day, Galerija Aidas focuses on painting with the occasional inclusion of sculpture, printing, ceramics, and conceptual art. The gallery began its journey more than 20 years ago when it hosted an exhibition by Group 24, one of the new art groups that formed after independence from the Soviet Union. Ever since, it has represented Lithuanian artists like Valentinas Antanavičius, one of the country’s most famous assemblage artists. Galerija Aidas also champions national talent abroad by arranging international shows. The gallery in Vilnius hosts almost fortnightly exhibitions, which often juxtapose an artist’s early works with their later pieces.

Galerija Aidas, Trakų st. 13, Vilnius, Lithuania, +370 5 212 4727

Established in 2002, Meno Niša Galerija exhibits the work of both established and emerging artists in a wide variety of media. Past exhibitions have included works as diverse as conceptual metal art by Adolfas Šaulys, and uniquely distinctive paintings by promising young artist Jolanta Kyzikaitė. In keeping with Vilnius’ strong jewelry-making tradition, the gallery also represents contemporary jewelers like Sigitas Virpilaitis and Elzė Sakalinskaitė. Furthermore, Meno Niša Galerija has hosted enamel jewelry workshops and an international biennial of enamel art. The gallery regularly participates in ArtVilnius, an opportunity to showcase its output at the capital’s global contemporary art fair.

Meno Niša Galerija, J. Basanavičiaus st. 1/13, Vilnius, Lithuania, +370 5 231 3811

Located in the Old Town of Vilnius, the Arka Gallery is one of the city’s four galleries founded by the Lithuanian Artists’ Association. It is also one of the largest galleries in the capital, comprising nearly 500 square meters of exhibition space across six rooms. Arka Gallery arranges up to 40 exhibitions annually, including those throughout Lithuania and abroad. It displays a broad range of media, from glass art exhibitions to drawings and prints by artists like Czech cultural icon Oldřich Kulhánek. In the past it has hosted national textile biennials, presenting innovative textile works. The gallery also organizes cultural events, such as concerts and book launches.

Arka Gallery, Aušros Vartų st. 7, Vilnius, Lithuania, +370 5 212 1319

‘Terra recognita‘ is a private institution that operates a gallery, which was founded in 2009 by artist Saulius Vaitiekūnas. Lithuanian-born Vaitiekūnas is known for his ambitious sculptures that combine everyday objects with heavy-duty materials, like wood, stone, and metal, in powerfully simple designs. Galerija ‘terra recognita’ presents dynamic works by Vaitiekūnas, including his playful sculptures and installations, as well as contemporary jewelry in beautiful minimalist designs. Furthermore, ‘terra recognita’ encompasses a fund that aims to conserve and develop Lithuanian art heritage; its ambitions entail supporting artists financially and creating educational programs involving metal and stonework techniques.

Galerija ‘terra recognita’, Stiklių st.7, Vilnius, Lithuania, +370 5 231 3907

The contemporary visual art and jewelry on display at (AV17) GALERIJA contrasts boldly with the old-world charm of the 17th-century building it is housed in. The gallery aims to promote Lithuanian art to an international audience, as well as introduce foreign artists to Vilnius. Monthly shows are orientated towards conceptual art, such as the humorously inventive exhibition Motor, Latex and Air by Kestutis Svirnelis. Experimentation is also prevalent in the gallery’s jewelry exhibitions, such as Francine Oeyen‘s collection of painted and embroidered discarded materials, creating colorful, eye-catching pieces. In addition to exhibitions, (AV17) GALERIJA organizes evenings dedicated to fashion, literature, music or performance.

(AV17) GALERIJA, Aušros Vartų st. 17, Vilnius, Lithuania, +370 5 212 5791