The Best Art Galleries In Glasgow

Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art is home to an enticing array of permanent and temporary exhibitions showcasing the masterpieces of acclaimed local and international artists. The wondrous works within this neoclassical building and the former abode of a rich tobacco merchant are both invigorating to the mind and soul. Similarly, the biannual projects serve as a vehicle for illuminating and highlighting pressing sociopolitical and cultural issues. Bursting with evocative visual narratives and conceptual pieces, GoMA takes the crown as Scotland’s most visited art gallery.

No trip to Glasgow is complete without a visit to Kelvingrove. Made of notable red sandstone, this iconic art gallery and museum lures thousands of art enthusiasts every year, each as eager as the next to witness the impressive collection of European art. Works by Rembrandt and Renoir stand out from the 8,000 objects, with Salvador Dali’s ‘Christ of St John of the Cross’ stealing the show.

The Hunterian is somewhat of a legend when it comes to Glasgow’s many galleries. It may be the oldest museum in Scotland, but the art gallery is where the real fun awaits. Highlights include permanent displays that span from the good old Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists, to Rubens and Rembrandt. The Hunterian also houses an astronomical amount of works by James McNeill Whistler, the largest permanent display out there to be precise and the greatest single accumulation (think watercolours galore) of Mackintosh-related pieces — the interiors from his Glasgow abode included. Make sure to marvel at Eduardo Paolozzi’s bas-relief aluminium doors.