The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts

The gallery was established in 1980 by the Royal Society of Fine Arts, and its permanent collection comprises of well over 2,000 works including paintings, prints, sculptures, photographs and ceramics.
Jordan might be better known to travellers for its historical richness and stunning landscapes, but the capital Amman has a great deal to offer in way of contemporary Middle Eastern art. Art lovers will find many galleries dotted mostly in and around the areas of Jabal Al Weidbdeh and Jabal Amman, areas which are known to be the city’s cultural and artistic hubs. Here is our introduction to the top 10 must see contemporary art galleries in Jordan.
Established firstly as a family business by art collector Ina’am Orfali in 1993, the Orfali gallery is located in a quiet spot close to Um Uthaina.
The gallery displays works from all schools of art, exposing visitors to a broad range of mediums including painting and sculpture. Although dealing in works and artists from across the Arab world, the Orfali gallery has developed a speciality for Iraqi art.
Alkufa, Amman, Jordan, +962 6 552 6932
Dedicated to the promotion of both established and emerging Arab artists, Orient gallery was opened in 1996 and is located in the classy Abdoun area of West Amman.
Artists such as Bahrain’s Jamal A. Rahim, Iraq’s Serawan Baran and Jordan’s Ghassan Abu Laban have all exhibited at the Orient Gallery.
Orient Gallery, Al Suways St 92, Amman, Jordan, +962 6 593 1331
Orient Gallery (Courtsey of Orient Gallery)
Jacaranda’s focus on works on paper is distinctly unique within the contemporary art scene in Amman. Exhibiting and selling works from both emerging and established, local and international artists, Jacaranda hope to encourage and support the culture of collecting, by providing more affordable pieces across the mediums of print, photography and drawing.
It is also the only gallery in Amman which exhibits Australian aboriginal art, which provides an interesting comparison against art from the Jordanian desert.
If you’re an art collector visiting Amman, then definitely head down to their space on Rainbow Street in Jabal Amman, as the works are all on paper and they are easy to roll up and travel with.
‘Umar Ibn Al Khattab, Amman, Jordan, +962 6 464 4050
Jacaranda (Courtsey of Jacaranda)
Established under the patronage of the Mayor of Amman in 2008, Wadi Finan Gallery in Jabal Amman is known for its powerful multimedia work and focus on arts education and training.
Wadi Finan Gallery also does a great deal of work in driving an appetite for Arab visual arts through showcasing the work of esteemed Arabs, and specifically Jordanian artists in international art fairs.
Wadi Finan For Art, Yousef Asfour St 4, Amman, Jordan, +962 6 463 6939
Located in the area of Wadi Saqra, this large and bright gallery has a very different feel to the generally more intimate galleries in Amman. Focussing on the fine arts, Cairo Amman Bank Gallery aim to highlight the role of financial institutions in promoting Jordanian culture and enhancing public life.
They have also become increasingly active in holding symposiums and lectures in their gallery space.
CAB Art Gallery, Zara Centre, Wadi Saqra, Amman, Jordan, +962 6 463 7316