7 Spots To See Work From Contemporary Visual Artists

7 Places Showcasing Contemporary Visual Art

How Do You Define Contemporary Art?

7 Great Films About Creative Expression

1. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
2. 8½ (1963)
3. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
4. Basquiat (1996)
5. Pina (2011)
6. The Square (2017)
7. Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (1993)

Glass Blowing at the Schack Art Center

In Depth

Contemporary art spans mediums, subject matters, and styles. It provides viewers with unique perspectives into the worlds of artists. Some of today's best art can be enjoyed in galleries, museums, and other spaces around the globe. Whether you are interested in collecting fine artwork, exploring interactive exhibits, or just taking in the work of local talent, these places offer invaluable experiences. In no particular order, here are seven great spots to check out work by contemporary visual artists.

At #1 we have the Schack Art Center in Everett, Washington. This facility provides free access to art exhibits and offers educational programs to individuals of all ages. Galleries feature diverse artwork from both internationally renowned artists and emerging local talent. From the main gallery, visitors can also watch as professional glassblowers engage in their craft in the space's hot shop.

In addition to its galleries and the hot shop, the Schack Art Center is home to seven other production studios that accommodate art forms such as silversmithing, stained glass, drawing, painting, and printmaking. The center also supports local arts education by offering a wide variety of classes, accredited teacher workshops, scholarships, and outreach for homeless and court-involved youth. To support the facility, make a donation online or consider purchasing a membership.

In addition to its galleries and the hot shop, the Schack Art Center is home to seven other production studios that accommodate art forms such as silversmithing, stained glass, drawing, painting, and printmaking.

Next up at #2 is projects+gallery, a commercial art gallery featuring contemporary pieces that blur the boundaries of traditional artistic disciplines. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri,the gallery was created by Barret Barrera Projects, a group that encourages artists to work outside of conventions. The space represents local, national, and international artists, and showcases pieces in a wide variety of mediums.

Projects+gallery offers changing exhibitions that explore prevalent issues such as race, identity, and gender. In addition to featuring traditional exhibits, the space plays host to occasional community events that benefit local nonprofits. The gallery also features a store where visitors can find a variety of art books, including several published by Barret Barrera Projects.

Coming in at #3 is the Albany Museum of Art, one of Southwest Georgia's cultural gems. In addition to housing a wide array of 19th and 20th-century European and American artwork, the museum boasts one of the largest collections of traditional African artwork in the region. It is known for both its permanent collections and temporary exhibits, which feature more contemporary artists. This non-profit organization strives to foster an appreciation for art amongst a diverse audience through relevant exhibitions and educational programming.

This non-profit organization strives to foster an appreciation for art amongst a diverse audience through relevant exhibitions and educational programming.

The Albany Museum of Art contains six gallery spaces in addition to an interactive children's gallery, a multi-functional auditorium, and a studio space for classes. It offers learning experiences for budding artists of all ages, and also hosts a variety of community events that bring art to new audiences. Admission to the museum is always free. If you are interested in contributing, you can make an online donation, purchase a membership, or explore volunteering options.

At #4 we have the Jack Bell Gallery in London, England. Located just a short walk away from the famous Piccadilly Circus, this group is dedicated to exhibiting, representing, and championing contemporary artists from all over the world. In addition to displaying paintings, sculptures, collages, and other pieces in its London space, the Jack Bell Gallery represents its artists at international shows.

Many of the artists represented by the Jack Bell Gallery are from Africa, Asia, and other non-Western locales. Their work showcases unique perspectives on politics and culture in their native countries. Gallery guests are not only able to admire artwork during their visit; they may also purchase select pieces for their own collections.

Gallery guests are not only able to admire artwork during their visit; they may also purchase select pieces for their own collections.

Our pick for #5 is Maus Contemporary, a gallery and space dedicated to experimental and issue-driven work. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, the gallery represents emerging, established, and internationally renowned artists who offer global perspectives on current affairs. Founded by a Belgian-born art enthusiast, Maus Contemporary strives to bring new dialogues on race, civil rights, and feminism to the deep south.

In addition to exhibitions, Maus Contemporary's program includes print publications and media outreach. Publications create a dialogue between contemporary and historic artists in order to emphasize a cross-generational narrative. The gallery also puts out a variety of curated projects and participates in art fairs and international exhibitions.

At #6 we have Rosenbaum Contemporary, a premier fine art gallery with locations in Boca Raton and Miami, Florida. Visitors will discover pieces by postwar, modern and contemporary masters presented through a museum quality exhibition program. The gallery features photography, paintings, sculptures, and mixed media that represent some of the biggest names in art today.

Visitors will discover pieces by postwar, modern and contemporary masters presented through a museum quality exhibition program.

Rosenbaum Contemporary also provides a variety of free services to fine art collectors. These services include acquisition advice, art consulting, collection building and management, sourcing of artists, and resale of select works. With a bent toward fashion forward pieces, Rosenbaum Contemporary is a major influencer in the South Florida arts scene and beyond.

Last but not least we have the Aicon Gallery at #7. This New York City art gallery creates a platform for contemporary artists from the Middle East, South Asia, and other underrepresented regions. It hosts both in depth solo shows and group exhibitions that explore artists' visions in a constantly changing world. From paintings and photographs to sculptures and mixed media pieces, these works showcase the unique experiences of individuals from around the globe.

The Aicon Gallery's program explores a novel approach to curation by deliberately linking contemporary art with work made during the second half of the 20th century. This approach is intended to produce unexpected congruencies while shedding light on the complexity of the idea of designating pieces as contemporary. The gallery showcases the work of established artists as well as ambitious young artists, and has collaborated with world-class museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the Guggenheim Museum.