The Best Contemporary Art Galleries In St Petersburg

Few visitors to St Petersburg think of it as a destination to discover contemporary art. Yet, being the cultural capital of Russia, Saint-Petersburg holds up the title by bringing forward the best of art from all generations. Many of the galleries are private or run by the artists themselves, making their collections more personalised and special.

Erarta Gallery

Erarta tops any list of contemporary art galleries in Saint Petersburg and even Russia. It is the largest private museum of contemporary art in the country, housing over 2,800 works of more than 300 artists from different parts of Russia. Apart from the temporary exhibition there are always special events happening, such as plays, concerts, film screenings, lectures etc. Whether you are a newbie or a contemporary art expert, this gallery is the perfect place to start exploring it when in St Petersburg.

29th Line of Vasilievsky Island 2, St. Petersburg, Russia

Open: Wednesday to Monday 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (closed on Tuesday)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWcODQ-gPa2/?taken-by=erarta_museum

Anna Nova Art Gallery

The Anna Nova Art Gallery works closely with artists from Russia and abroad to bring you the best of modern art, especially focusing on the 21st century. The gallery presents art in many forms: painting, sculpture, etchings, installations, video-art and performances. It also organises lectures, classes, movie screenings and meetings with the artists to generate a dialogue between the artists and their audience.

Zhukovskogo Street 28, St. Petersburg, Russia

Open: Tuesday to Saturday 12:00p.m. – 7:00p.m. (closed on Sunday and Monday)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOHUK15hWj3/?taken-by=annanova_gallery

Name Gallery

The Name Gallery is the place to find St Petersburg artists, displaying many up-and-coming talent. The curators of the gallery come from many recognised art establishments in Saint Petersburg, such as the Hermitage Museum, Russian Museum and Saint Petersburg State University, bringing some of the most experienced and educated people to the gallery.

Bolshaya Konyushennaya Street 2, St. Petersburg, Russia

Open: Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFeZEKBEynZ/?taken-by=namegallery_spb

KGallery

Apart from collecting recent works of 21st century artists, KGallery also has a large collection of Russian art from the second half of the 19th century to the 20th century. Some of the biggest names in Russian contemporary literature have been displayed here, including Malevich, Kustodiev, Petrov-Vodkin and others. Among other notable collections are the works of artists from the 1930s to ’70s, artists who formed the so-called “St Petersburg underground movement.”

Fontanka River Embankment 24, St. Petersburg, Russia

Open: Monday to Friday 11:00a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday 12:00am-6:00pm

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSEKI-jB2RC/?taken-by=kgallery_art

Collector’s Art Gallery Di Di

The collection of Di Di mainly consists of the works of the artists of the 1960s and ’70s underground. The artists would persistently exhibit their works in private showings, which usually took place in forbidden apartment art shows. Although their names may not have made a significant contribution to the world of art globally, they remain a symbol of artistic resistance in the Soviet Union.

Bolshoy Avenue of Vasilievsky Island 62, St. Petersburg, Russia

Open: Monday to Friday 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Saturday to Sunday 12:00am-7:00pm

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSDsl_WDENG/?taken-by=didi_art_gallery

Art re.Flex Gallery

The Art re.Flex Gallery has been operating in St Petersburg for over a decade now. It successfully brings together the works of popular contemporary artists and introduces emerging artists from both the Russian and international community. The gallery presents different approaches to art, and it is not uncommon to see artists in action, working at the gallery. The gallery also represents different types of applied arts, such as embroidery, jewellery and sculpture.

Bakunina Avenue 5, St. Petersburg, Russia

Open: Tuesday to Saturday 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (closed on Sunday and Monday)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHFFUvLB_iy/?taken-by=artreflex

Marina Gisich Gallery

Marina Gisich Gallery is one of the longest standing in the city. It brings together a number of contemporary artists both for permanent and temporary exhibitions. The gallery participates in a number of international events, so you can catch them on tour or visit locally. One of their main functions is organising auctions of modern art, some of which are organised for charity.

Fontanka River Embankment 121, St. Petersburg, Russia

Open: Monday to Friday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Saturday 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Closed on Sunday)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYn20h3HwFK/?taken-by=marinagisichgallery

New Museum of Modern Art

A gallery that first started off as a private collection and then gradually grew to become a three-storey museum open to the public. The collection mainly consists of Soviet Noncoformist art and of Modern Russian artists. The museum was one of the first to bring the Nonconformist movement to Saint Petersburg and continues to be a leading gallery not just in the city but also in the country.

6th Line of Vasilievsky Island 29, St. Petersburg, Russia

Open: Wednesday to Friday 11:0o a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Saturday to Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (closed on Monday and Tuesday)

https://www.instagram.com/p/mC8NBVNzBo/?taken-by=novy_museum

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