Cluj-Napoca’s Best Contemporary Art Galleries

Located in a former paintbrush factory converted a few years back in cultural center for galleries and artists’ studios, Lateral ArtSpace is one of the younger contemporary art galleries in Cluj. Founded in 2012 by artists – Dragos Badita, Cristina Curcan and Lucian Indrei – this small gallery promotes emerging talents from Romania and abroad, creating “a place for representation and experimentation so much needed – where jumping from school to the responsibility of making a programme and a vision of an exhibition space takes courage, will and determination.”

Soimii Patriei is definitely the place to go to discover emerging talent, as the gallery mainly promotes artists who are doing their first public exhibition outside the university in the unique atmosphere of one of the oldest pubs in town. Its approach to supporting the young ones is noticeable even in the choice of the gallery’s name that borrows strong connotations from past times when all pre-school and primary school children were part of the national organization “Soimii Patriei.” Opened in 2010 by Markos Tunde and Lorincz Gyula, Soimii Patriei stands out locally as a true supporter of young artists.

One of the galleries managed by the University of Art and Design from Cluj-Napoca, Casa Matei is a reference point for students’ exhibitions. Enjoying a central location that makes it a not to miss attraction of historical Cluj, this gallery is a good choice for art enthusiasts interested in the creative perspectives of the younger generations of Romanian artists. Casa Matei organises regular students’ and professors’ exhibitions as well as joint international partnership exhibitions with institutions such as the Art Academy from Wroclaw or Academia di Belle Arte di Brera-Milano.