Baltimore's Top 6 Must-See Contemporary Galleries

If you are passionate about art and culture, Baltimore is your ideal destination. With several events taking place throughout the year, an impressive dining scene, commercial galleries, and several artist-run spaces around the city, you'll for sure find something suited to your taste in this cosmopolitan city. From traditional art to contemporary pieces, you might realize you don't have enough time to visit all you want.

Indeed, the offer is so vast that it can be hard to choose what to visit when in Baltimore. But don't despair! We put together a list of some of the best art galleries in Baltimore. It might help you get a clear idea of the artistic panorama, but also to better organize yourself for your next trip to Baltimore. If you are heading to this city, don't miss our tips!

Open Space

This art space is more of an enterprise than an actual gallery. Run by artists and launched around ten years ago, it plays a central role in the city's alternative art scene.

Calling Open Space a gallery would be reductive. Despite having started in a converted auto-garage, this venture is also a studio and a hub for production that encourages dialogues between artists, curators, designers, and activists. On top of everything, their schedule is full of enriching events and workshops.

At Open Space, you can expect to see a variety of exhibitions throughout the year. Either in solo or group projects from local and international artists, the gallery always features a variety of mediums. From video to photography to game designs, visiting Open Space is a pleasant experience.

Maryland Art Space

We couldn't make a list of the best art galleries in Baltimore without mentioning Maryland Art Place. Many consider it as the focus of the art scene of the city, and they have good reasons to do so.

This organization is being around for about 40 years, and it is one of the oldest in the city. It is known for its efforts in encouraging the professional development of artists and providing several events, exhibitions, and workshops. Their rich schedule and vast offer attract various members of the local and international community both for collaborations and visits.

Maryland Art Space organizes various annual exhibitions featuring international artists, but it also gives space to regional artists throughout the year. The stimulating environment of Maryland Art Space makes it one of the best contemporary art galleries in the region. You cannot miss this one if you are into contemporary art!

Grimaldi's Gallery

Baltimore's oldest contemporary art gallery is your place to go if you want to dig into post-Second World War American and European art. Aside from the regular gallery, the organization gained a name for the extensive program of exhibitions. After all, Grimaldi's represents several international and local talents and is one of the most important venues in the Mid-Atlantic area. Check their schedule online to know what's going on!

The emphasis of the gallery is on contemporary sculpture (the light sculptures by Chul Hyun Ahn is a must-see! ), but don't skip the notable photography works.

Guest Spot

This independent exhibition gallery is what you need if you are looking for a unique art experience, a bit different from the other spaces mentioned in this guide.

Run by a team of artists, with Rod Malin being the founder, Guest Spot offers a rich program of events and exhibitions. In most works, the use of space and the theme of impermanence play a central role. The organization encourages artists to experiment with new installations and with a different perspective on the relationship between space and purpose. A vast array of international and national artists collaborate with the exhibition every year.

You can find Guest Spot at the School for Innovation and Self-Accreditation. Make sure you pay a visit to this stimulating art space: you won't be disappointed.

Goya Contemporary

Goya Contemporary has gained a name for its effort in promoting art and culture in the city. After all, it is one of the most prestigious art spaces. Not only it offers a wide range of art exhibitions but is also contributing to the distribution of several printed publications, all showcasing the best works of the contemporary art scene. Their prints, made in collaboration with several artists, are currently featured in museums and private collections. They are well known for being characterized by exquisite attention to details and for being unique art pieces by some of the best talents of the current art scene.

The exhibitions at Goya Contemporary are known for being thought-provoking and for involving several talents of the current art scene. The gallery plays an active role in several art roles around the country. It is worth mentioning that Goya Contemporary tends to promote the work of mid-career artists, which are often overlooked by other galleries.

The Alchemy Of Art

You might be surprised at how dynamic this little space is! The Alchemy of Art is both an art gallery and a craft boutique, featuring a gorgeous collection of works. Despite being a private art gallery, the exhibitions are always stimulating. Every month there is something new going on, which ensures a constant flow of artists. Indeed, the real purpose of The Alchemy of Art is to promote local talents. You can expect to see a wide variety of techniques and innovative mediums, with an emphasis on color and texture that make the gallery unique and always interesting. On top of that, every first Thursday of the month, the boutique organizes music and art events!

The Bottom Line

As you can see, the option in terms of art galleries in Baltimore is vast. There is something for every taste, but try to keep yourself open for all the diverse opportunities in one of the most prominent art-locations in the Mid-Atlantic. In other words, don't be afraid of exploring!

In this brief essential guide, we decided to mention only six of the many art spaces you should visit in this city in the heart of Maryland. Of course, don't hesitate to investigate to find more galleries we haven't mentioned here.