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Must-Follow Museum Instagram Accounts For Any Art Lover

Urban Light, LA, LACMA, Chris Burden Installation
Urban Light, LA, LACMA, Chris Burden Installation | © Heidi de Vries/Flickr

Along with copious amounts of selfies, the popularity of Instagram ushered in a newfound accessibility to art, specifically, to some of the most renowned galleries around the globe. From stellar galleries in Europe and North America, to quirky accounts exploring galleries in new ways, check out these Instagram accounts that any art lover will want to follow.

Tate

Britain’s Tate art galleries include a network of four museums: the Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool, and Tate St Ives. The institution houses the UK’s national collection of British art, in addition to international modern and contemporary art. As such, Tate’s Instagram account shows off a bit of everything. From David Hockney’s dreamy landscapes and portraits, to contemporary Turner prize candidates, there’s something for everyone in the @tate Insta feed. Photos are captioned with thought-provoking questions and little-known facts, so be sure to take a read.

http://instagram.com/p/BHo4RDTjvIr/

Art Observed

New Yorkers and wannabe New Yorkers will know there are almost as many art galleries as there are taxi cabs. If you want to keep up to speed with the city’s art offerings, but don’t feel like following dozens of various museums and galleries, simply follow @artobserved. Art Observed rounds up contemporary and fine art news and events observed from New York City. Artworks from galleries around the city are shared, and museum text panel enthusiasts will love the accompanying captions, which provide insights into the art, artist, and other intriguing facts.

http://instagram.com/p/BHuUgOphjN4/

Le Grand Palais

The Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées, known as the Grand Palais (Great Palace), is a bit of everything: huge historic site, exhibition hall, and museum. You can find it at the Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France, or you can simply check out their Instagram account. Francophiles will pine over the shots of Paris; architecture buffs will love the photos of this impeccable example from the Beaux-Arts movements, including ornate decoration and stone facades; and there’s plenty for art lovers. The captions are written in French, but even if your French language skills are lacking, @le_grand_palais is still worth the follow.

http://instagram.com/p/BF84TAZn59_/

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is an Instagrammer’s dream – those lamp posts alone make for a perfect shot. And LACMA’s Instagram account is no different. The gallery, which is centrally located between the beach and downtown LA, features artworks that cover ‘the expanse of art history and the globe’. Their feed is full of cool, inspiring art, in addition to visitor-snapped photos.

http://instagram.com/p/_-YAdELp7k/

Museum Hack

If museums aren’t your jam, consider Museum Hack as a gateway Instagram account to the art world. While it’s not an actual museum, Museum Hack provides ‘renegade museum adventures’ in NYC, DC, and SF. Their tours are known for engaging (often salacious) stories, interactivity (Snapchatting is encouraged), and plenty of laughs. Their Instagram account is no different; expect Renaissance art covered in emojis, or Impressionist paintings adorned with hip hop lyrics.

http://instagram.com/p/BCJNOn6Kx3y/

The Art Gallery of Ontario

The AGO has over 80,000 artworks in its collection, and at 45,000 square metres of physical space, it’s one of the largest galleries in North America. As such, they have no shortage of Instagram content. The building itself is an architectural marvel; Frank Gehry’s 2008 major redesign makes the gallery as Instagram-friendly as its art. The AGO’s tagline ‘We proudly declare that art matters,’ is reflected in its enlightening, inspiring content. Not ones to shy away from social or political matters, @agotoronto is an excellent way to stay engaged in local, national, and global issues, through the lens of artists.

http://instagram.com/p/BHUjY2lD9DL/

Rock That Museum Kid

Rock That Museum Kid proves that art galleries are nothing if not kid-friendly. Proving kids and art are truly ‘a perfect match’, Instagrammers snap their little artwatchers and tag #RockThatMuseumKid to be featured. Seeing little eyes take in the wonders of the art world will encourage you to get yourself (and any tiny companions) to a museum, as soon as possible.

http://instagram.com/p/BFYZhqxoO-8/

Rijksmuseum

If Dutch art is more your jam, look no further than the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands. Their official Instagram account provides a glimpse into some of the 8,000 objects on display in the museum. From Rembrandt’s masterpieces and other notable painters in the Dutch Golden Age, to the stern of HMS Royal Charles, the Rijksmuseum’s feed is awe-inspiring. You’ll be researching ‘flights to Amsterdam’ in no time.
http://instagram.com/p/BHEhmmgBf93/

Guggenheim

We’d be remiss to leave NYC’s Guggenheim Museum off this list. Housed within Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpiece, the Guggenheim is home to a first-class, world-renowned collection of art. Follow @guggenheim for the art and architecture shots, and be sure to check out their posts with commentary from curators, artists, and gallery staff.

http://instagram.com/p/BHvIQTFA3Jz/

About the author

Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Alix studied Art History and English Literature at Queen’s University. A love of the arts, history, rain, and queuing took her to England, where she completed a Masters degree in Culture, Communication and Media, and worked around London, including Kensington Palace and Tate Britain. Following a transatlantic move back to Ontario, Alix now calls Toronto home and is thrilled to rediscover the city as she helps launch The Culture Trip’s Toronto hub as Editorial Director. She has a penchant for yoga classes, wandering art galleries, and methodically scouting out the best bookstores and coffee shops.

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