Stockholms 10 Contemporary Art Galleries You Should Visit

A beautiful medieval city surrounded by water and greenery, Stockholm has plenty of appeal, including thriving food and art scenes. Galleries in the capital promote Swedish talent as well as the works of many international artists, and often collaborate on broader cultural projects. From artist-run initiatives to a gallery specializing in photography, here are the ten best exhibition spaces and galleries to discover contemporary art in Stockholm.

1. Magasin III Museum & Foundation for Contemporary Art

Museum

Housed in a 1930s warehouse at the capital’s old free port, Magasin III Museum & Foundation for Contemporary Art has a large exhibition area of around 1,500 square meters. It uses this space to present ambitious shows for mid-career internationally established artists, like Irish sculptor Siobhán Hapaska. Since its beginnings in 1987, Magasin III has also developed a private collection of over 600 works, including many pieces from artists it has showcased over the years. Two of its galleries are dedicated to displaying works from this permanent collection. In the last few years, Magasin III has further expanded its scope to include lectures, talks, and collaborations with other art institutions as founding members of FACE.

2. Wetterling Gallery

Wetterling Gallery

Since opening in 1978 Wetterling Gallery has been leading the way for contemporary art in Scandinavia. As well as introducing international artists to the local scene, it has also been championing Swedish artists with a particular focus on the latest trends in painting, sculpture, and photography. Wetterling Gallery hosts around seven exhibitions annually, presenting the works of both well-established and emerging talent. World-famous individuals, such as Pop Art exponent James Rosenquist, have had recent shows here. The gallery’s founder, Björn Wetterling, has chaired The Swedish Gallery Association since 2010, and the gallery has been actively involved in the international art scene, participating in around four major fairs per year.
Kungsträdgården 3, 111 47 Stockholm, +46 8 10 10 09

3. Fotografiska

Art Gallery, Museum

The Art Nouveau building containing Fotografiska, formerly an old customs house, was designed by acclaimed Swedish architect Ferdinand Boberg. Today, it is home to one of the best photography museums in Scandinavia. Every year the museum stages between 15 and 20 major exhibitions, which have presented internationally renowned photographers, including Swedes Helena Blomqvist and Klara Källström. Photography shows at Fotografiska explore many different themes, such as Roger Ballen’s black and white depictions of human or animal absurdity, and Sebastião Salgado’s images of parts of the world that have escaped modern civilization. Visitors to Fotografiska can also enjoy after-hours music events and excellent views of Stockholm from its dining spaces.

4. Bonniers Konsthall

Bonniers Konsthall

Bonniers Konsthall derives its name from the Maria Bonnier Dahlin Foundation, which awards a grant to a young Swedish artist every year. The latest contemporary art is presented in a varied exhibition program of themed group and solo shows. Artists of international caliber have displayed their works here, and American photographer and filmmaker Sharon Lockhart is no exception. Immersing herself in foreign communities for long periods of time, Lockhart’s poetic images document the everyday lives of people who are often overlooked. This educational quality is reflective of the many activities undertaken by Bonniers Konsthall, which include collaborating on cultural research projects and art publications. Furthermore, since opening in 2006, Bonniers Konsthall has amassed its own diverse collection of works, which are often loaned to museums around the world.
Torsgatan 19, 113 21 Stockholm, +46 8 736 42 48

5. Galleri Magnus Karlsson

Galleri Magnus Karlsson

Founded in 1990, Galleri Magnus Karlsson was originally located in Västerås, a city 100 kilometers west of Stockholm. It moved to the capital in 1997 after developing a reputation as one of the most memorable contemporary art galleries in Sweden. Visitors will find it situated on the ground floor of The Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts, an institution that plays a supportive role for the country’s artists and architects. In line with its host institution’s mission, the main focus of Galleri Magnus Karlsson is to promote emerging national talent. Artists represented by the gallery work in a wide range of media, from the lifelike watercolors of Maria Nordin, to the avant-garde installations of Mette Björnberg. Galleri Magnus Karlsson also participates in international art fairs such as ABC in Berlin and The Armory Show in New York.
Fredsgatan 12, 111 52 Stockholm, +46 8 660 43 53

6. Andréhn-Schiptjenko

Andréhn-Schiptjenko

Scandinavian galleries were starting to develop more of an international approach in the early 1990s when Andréhn-Schiptjenko was founded. Since then, the gallery has outgrown each of its venues whilst launching the careers of many Scandinavians. It has also introduced foreign artists, such as Mexican José León Cerrillo whose first European solo show was at the gallery. The emerging and mid-career artists represented by the gallery often produce edgy and experimental works, and include Jacob Dahlgren, who pushes the boundaries of optical art, and Annika Larsson, whose videos explore human responses to rules, control, and ‘the gaze’. Furthermore, Andréhn-Schiptjenko makes an effort to present these artists at art fairs, including Art Basel Hong Kong and Zona Maco.
Hudiksvallsgatan 8, 113 30 Stockholm, +46 8 612 00 75

7. Färgfabriken

Art Gallery, Market, Museum

Since 1995 Färgfabriken has acted as an exciting platform for art, architecture and urban development. It explores these subjects, and their role in society, through exhibitions, seminars, discussions and workshops. Färgfabriken’s large exhibition hall in Stockholm is the venue for shows like the recent retrospective spanning the 50-year career of the multi-talented Carl Johan De Geer, but it also hosts concerts, dance performances, and solo shows for winners of the Beckers Art Award, which champions innovative contemporary art. In addition to organizing national and international exhibitions, Färgfabriken often collaborates on urban projects in other parts of the world.

8. Galleri Charlotte Lund

Art Gallery

In 1993, after working in the New York art scene, Charlotte Lund opened her own gallery in Stockholm. In its early years, the gallery focused on showing the work of well-established photographers but has since broadened its scope to include all fine art media. In 2009 Galleri Charlotte Lund opened a 200 square-meter exhibition space at the top of an industrial building in the popular art district of the capital. In this new location, the gallery has hosted many exhibitions, such as photo and video works by Maria Friberg, one of Sweden’s most established artists. Friberg’s shows have highlighted modern-day dilemmas, like new communication technologies leading to increased isolation, and the feeling of ‘drowning’ in noise pollution.

9. Wip Konsthall

Wip Konsthall

Wip Konsthall is the gallery belonging to Wip:sthlm (work-in-progress), a collaborative venture involving 93 artists. Their purpose-built space covers two floors comprising 83 artist studios, a gallery, and shops, including a bookshop. Since 2007 Wip Konsthall has presented a program of cutting-edge exhibitions mostly designed by its artists, but sometimes in collaboration with outside contributors. Past shows have displayed experimental and conceptual art, such as Melissa Henderson’s paintings, sculptures, and videos exploring obstacles that prevent speech and self-expression. Wip:sthlm has also promoted art projects in conjunction with the Swedish city of Umeå, the 2014 European Capital of Culture.
Årsta Skolgränd 14 BD, 117 43, Stockholm, kontakt@wipsthlm.se

10. Lars Bohman Gallery

Lars Bohman Gallery

The five rooms of the Lars Bohman Gallery display some of the most interesting contemporary art in Stockholm, where eye-catching sculpture, installations and other media contribute to thought-provoking exhibitions throughout the year. In 2013, Lars Bohman Gallery merged with Angelika Knäpper Gallery, continuing its international focus. Artists represented by the gallery work in a broad range of styles, from the collage compositions of Hans Andersson, to the atmospheric watercolors of Lars Lerin, and the amusing cartoon-like paintings of Marie-Louise Ekman. In the past, the gallery has also hosted shows by world-famous artists, including Louise Bourgeois, and Yayoi Kusama.
Karlavägen 9, 114 24 Stockholm, +46 8 20 78 07
By Rebecca Steel

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.