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Bucharest’s Best Contemporary Art Galleries

Exhibition of local artist Lavinia Pollak at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest
Exhibition of local artist Lavinia Pollak at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest | © Lavinia Pollak / MNAC București

Exciting and surprising, Romania’s capital is rapidly becoming a major hub for contemporary art in central and eastern Europe, with dozens of dynamic art galleries creating a diverse space for art enthusiasts to explore and enjoy. Discover established and emerging contemporary Romanian artists with our guide to Bucharest’s best contemporary art galleries and take a glimpse into the new wave of Romanian art.

Art Yourself Gallery

Launched in 2011 and located close to the green Kiseleff Boulevard, Art Yourself aspires to become a strong connection point between contemporary artists and the public. The gallery focuses on presenting creations of established artists and on promoting and encouraging young contemporary artists such as painter Radu Rodideal or photographer Cosmin Bumbut. Moreover, Art Yourself hosts a permanent exhibition of Affordable Art that displays hundreds of creations from dozens of contemporary artists available for sale at low and mid-range prices.

Zorzini Gallery

Zorzini is one of the youngest contemporary art galleries in Bucharest. The gallery promotes Romanian artists both in Bucharest and abroad at major art events such as Contemporary Istanbul and Art Monaco. Founded in 2012, the gallery exhibits Romania’s younger generations of artists, such as Andrei Gamart, Teodora Axente, Dan Beudean and Vlad Berte, but also the wonderful creations of Nicolae Comanescu, a mixed media artist who uses unconventional painting materials obtained from cigarette and wood ashes, and mud or vegetable powders.

Anca Poterasu Gallery

Launched in 2009 as an alternative project known as the Little Yellow Studio ‘designed to give a personal touch to thematic and group exhibitions, performances and interactive dialogues’, Anca Poterasu Gallery gained its present identity in 2011. Since then, the gallery has become an active and established name on Bucharest’s art scene. Aiming to enhance the presence of Romania’s contemporary artists on the international stage, the gallery is a regular guest at international events such as Contemporary Istanbul, Vienna Fair and Art Moscow. Its portfolio of artists includes the daring creations of Donald Simionoiu, Irina Botea, Nicu Ilfoveanu and Teodor Graur.

Atelier 030202

Atelier 030202 is perhaps one the most unconventional contemporary art galleries in Bucharest, dedicated to a public interested in visual arts and artistic experiments. Located on the same premises as the Comedy Theatre, Atelier 030202 brings a strong and distinct emotion through its authentic art performances and exhibitions. Conceived as an artist-run space where diverse forms of contemporary art could flourish, the gallery hosts various events: music performances, contemporary dance, video installations and film screenings. Furthermore, Atelier 030202 promotes young artists and curators from Romania and beyond. With its less formal approach to presenting and representing contemporary art, Atelier 030202 is unequivocally one of the top venues in Bucharest to see what’s new on Romania’s art scene.

Galateca Gallery

Galateca Gallery sets out to showcase national and international design projects and original contemporary art, aiming to create valuable exhibitions of applied and multimedia art. Located in one of Bucharest’s finest historical buildings – the Central University Library – the gallery is situated just across the street from the National Museum of Arts. Today, Galateca is one of the must-see cultural spaces of Bucharest for both locals and tourists interested in contemporary art.

H’Art Gallery

H’Art Gallery is one of the oldest contemporary art galleries in Bucharest. Since 2002 the gallery has hosted over 150 exhibitions of the most important Romanian artists and established itself as a leading voice on Bucharest’s art scene. H’Art Gallery has one of the largest private portfolios in the country, focusing predominantly on promoting artists educated after the end of the communist period, such as Dumitru Gorzo, Ovidiu Fenes, Anca Muresan, Gili Mocanu, Alexandru Paul, Floriama Candea and Ana Banica, among many others. H’Art is unquestionably one of the best contemporary art galleries in Romania and is not to be missed while visiting Bucharest.

Aiurart

Aiurart is one of the most active art spaces in Bucharest, successfully combining its multiple identities as a contemporary art gallery, small museum and cultural centre. To date, Aiurart has hosted over 30 exhibitions of both Romanian and international artists, displaying a complex range of artistic creations from paintings to sculpture, video art, installations and various experimental projects. Aiurart is also involved in educational programmes such as Museums in High Schools and High Schools in Museums. Furthermore, the gallery’s location in a renovated pre-war mansion is an outstanding work of art, nominated for the main prize at the 2013 Bucharest Architecture Awards.

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About the author

Diana Condrea was born in Romania and although she travelled and studied abroad, she still has a keen affection for the specific culture of Eastern Europe and her home country. With a Bachelor’s in Political Sciences and a Master’s in Tourism, Diana’s main cultural interests relate to the immaterial heritage of Eastern Europe, Balkan and Latin American countries, travel photography and contemporary literature. Diana also works on developing Uncover Romania, a personal initiative of recreating Romania’s image as a cultural destination.

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