Truth be told: art is everywhere! Whether on the city walls, in the colors or in the landscapes that only Rio de Janeiro has, you can see countless possibilities. But there are places that specialize in bringing together the latest and most classic when it comes to painting, photography, sculpture, installations and more. That’s why, among so many options, we’ve put together the art galleries in Rio de Janeiro that you can’t miss.
Bhering Factory
The former factory – one of the largest in the country – located in the Port Zone has not just one gallery, but several art galleries in Rio de Janeiro.
As such, it functions as a true cultural and artistic hub, which also houses ateliers, stores and more! There are more than 15,000 square meters and five floors of pure inspiration and the visit is not to be missed!
đź“ŚRuaOrestes, 28 – Santo Cristo
PĂ© de Boi Gallery
The intention of Ana Maria Chindler, owner of Galeria PĂ© de Boi, was to bring together the best of Brazilian popular art in one place.
So, out of this desire, the space in Laranjeiras was born, which brings together a significant collection of pieces, products and exhibitions by great artists, such as Nino (JoĂŁo Cosme Felix da Silva), Izabel Mendes da Cunha, Ulisses Pereira Chaves, among others.
đź“ŚRuaIpiranga, 55 – Laranjeiras
Cavalo Gallery
In Botafogo, Galeria Cavalo is a contemporary art space that proposes to exhibit the work not only of the artists it represents, but also of those who have never exhibited in the city before. In this way, it keeps the cultural scene pulsating and always up to date, while also promoting meetings, debates, performances and screenings.
The gallery has twice won awards for the best stand in the sector at renowned international art fairs.
đź“ŚRuaSorocaba, 51 – Botafogo
Casa da Escada Colorida
The SelarĂłn Staircase is one of Rio de Janeiro’s most famous tourist attractions. And it’s right there that Casa da Escada Colorida is also located.
The place functions as an independent art center and artist residency, with the aim of democratizing culture through education, opportunities and cultural management processes. There you’ll find studios, courses, workshops, events, film clubs and exhibitions by residents and guest artists.
đź“ŚRuaManuel Carneiro, 18 – Santa Teresa
A Gentil Carioca
One of the city’s darlings, A Gentil Carioca is a contemporary art gallery located in the heart of downtown Rio. It was founded by 3 artists – Márcio Botner, Ernesto Neto & Laura Lima – and aims to bring more diversity to the way art is thought about, produced and sold.
If you’re strolling around the Sahara area, a visit to A Gentil Carioca is a great breather.
đź“ŚRuaGonçalves LĂŞdo, 11/17, sobrado – Centro
Anita Schwartz Art Gallery
Another must-see on the circuit is the Anita Schwartz Art Gallery in Gávea. The venue was a pioneer in Brazil in creating an architecturally designed building to host major contemporary art exhibitions, installations and special projects. It covers an area of approximately 700 m², spread over three floors of pure delight.
đź“ŚRuaJosĂ© Roberto Macedo Soares, 30 – Gávea
Z42 Art
The Z42 house is in Cosme Velho and has eclectic architecture from the 30s. That alone is inspiring. But inside, there are also nine studios for artists, exhibition halls, an auditorium, a garage (a multipurpose space) and an open-air space with a stage.
So you can breathe and feel contemporary art through the experiments, courses, workshops, exhibitions and all the activities that Z42 offers.
đź“ŚRuaFilinto de Almeida, 42 – Cosme Velho
Nara Roesler
The Nara Roesler gallery is one of the country’s leading contemporary art galleries, focusing on Brazilian and Latin American artists who began their careers in the 1950s, as well as established and emerging artists.
Founded in 1989 in Rio de Janeiro, the gallery has crossed borders in Brazil and also around the world, with spaces in SĂŁo Paulo and New York.
đź“ŚRuaRedentor, 241 – Ipanema
Lake Gallery
The Palácio do Catete is a historic building in Rio de Janeiro that houses not only the Museu da República, but also the Galeria do Lago.
With free admission, you can go beyond the Museum’s gardens and enter this space which always has good exhibitions of contemporary art, with works that, in some way, also dialogue with the Museum. That’s the tip!
đź“ŚRuado Catete, 153 – Catete
Meta Gallery
Among the art galleries in Rio de Janeiro, this is the first gallery totally dedicated to technological art in Brazil – and it just opened its doors this year in the Marvelous City.
The gallery exhibits works by renowned artists in areas such as augmented reality, virtual reality experiences, multimedia installations and interactive virtual environments. It’s worth a look!
đź“ŚRua da Assembleia, 40 – Centro