Art Lover's Guide to São Paulo: Top 10 Galleries & Art Spaces

Displaying the works of long-standing contemporary artists alongside pieces by emerging new talents, the Baró Galeria celebrates the artistic creations of some of Brazil’s best artists both old and new. David Medalla, Daniel Arsham, Elena Damiani and Norbert Bisky are just a handful of the renowned artists whose works are often displayed here. Since opening four years ago, the Baro Galeria has become a place in which artistic debate and discussion is encouraged and celebrated alongside the rotating exhibitions and curatorial projects of contemporary artworks.
Baró Galeria, Rua da Barra Funda 216, São Paulo, Brazil, +55 11 3666 6489

Stepping away from the conventional definition of what makes something ‘art’, the Choque Cultural takes its inspiration from Sao Paulo’s much-loved underground art scene. Focusing on a rotating programme of exhibitions with ‘pop, outsider and young art’ at its core, visitors can expect street art-style paintings and prints full of youthful panache and layered meanings. Since opening in 2004, the Choque Cultural has displayed the works of dozens of talented artists including Mariana Pabst Martins, Rafael Silveira, Tec and Jaca. To experience the type of art that lies at the very heart of Sao Paulo today, a visit to Choque Cultural is an absolute must.
Choque Cultural, Rua Medeiros de Albuquerque 250, São Paulo, Brazil, + 55 11 2678 6600

One of Sao Paulo’s youngest successful art galleries, the Galeria Jaqueline Martins has been around since 2011 but it was only after it made its debut at the 2013 Frieze London that it really became well-known internationally. Highly acclaimed for its radical interrogation of artistic practice, the Galeria Jaqueline Martins takes pride in featuring a fusion of works by some of Brazil’s most outstanding contemporary artists. An array of different mediums can be enjoyed here including painting, sculpture, photography and design. A smaller, more low-key gallery, this is an ideal exhibition space to visit for that sought-after morning culture fix.
Galeria Jaqueline Martins, Rua Dr.Virgílio de Carvalho Pinto, 74 Pinheiros, São Paulo, Brazil, +55 11 2628 1943

By far the most famous of all of Sao Paulo’s incredible art galleries and exhibition spaces, the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (more commonly known as MASP) tends to top the tourist’s list of places to visit. Said to be among the most influential art galleries in South America, MASP was designed by architect Lina Bo Bardi almost 50 years ago. The modern design of the outer gallery space is enough to draw the visitors, but it is the huge permanent collection of artworks inside that really makes this gallery stands out from the rest. Alongside its exhibitions of contemporary and post WWII artworks by local Brazilian artists, MASP also exhibits the largest collection of works by the European masters in the entire southern hemisphere, putting it on the same scale of prestige as the MoMA or Tate Modern.
MASP, Avenida Paulista, 1578 – Cerqueira César, São Paulo, Brazil, +55 11 3251 5644