These Are the 12 Best Contemporary Art Galleries in the World

White Cube was viewed as an early exhibition venue for young British artists to get their start when it was established in 1993 by Jay Jopling. Over the years, the gallery and the talent it represents have reached international acclaim as an innovative and forward-thinking art institution. White Gallery is renowned for its unique solo exhibitions that make guests rethink how a traditional art show can be presented.

Locations include London (2), Hong Kong, Paris, New York, and West Palm Beach.

Victoria Marion Miro, one of the most celebrated women art collectors, launched her eponymous gallery in 1985 on London’s Cork Street. At that time, the gallery was only a bit larger than a studio apartment, yet it still managed to become one of the most talked about art spaces in the city. Today, the Victoria Miro Gallery now represents the most respected icons and thought leaders in the art industry, such as Chris Ofili and Alice Neel, with their works showcased in the establishment’s two active galleries.

Locations include London and Venice.

Once a small gallery from Austria, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac is one of today’s most recognizable names in contemporary art. Its impressive lineup of 60 artists is showcased in the gallery’s spectacular venues that range from a five-story mansion in London’s Mayfair neighborhood to an ironworks factory in Pantin, France. Beyond the elaborate exhibitions, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac owns a publishing house that releases books and catalogs on superstars in contemporary art and the latest trends.

Locations include Paris, Pantin, Salzburg, London, and Seoul.

Arne Glimcher launched Pace Gallery in 1960 as an artist-first gallery that creates a welcoming space for creatives of all mediums to showcase their visionary works. In its seven decades, the gallery has launched the careers of numerous artists through its robust global programming, institutional collaborations, and eccentric public showings. Pace Gallery also dedicates itself to exploring the intersection between art and technology through its interdisciplinary projects and its NFT platform, Pace Verso.

Locations include New York, Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong, Geneva, Seoul, East Hampton and Palm Beach.

Rakeb Sile and Mesai Haileleu founded Addis Fine Art with the mission to highlight contemporary artists from the Horn of Africa region and its diasporas. Based both in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and London, the gallery has opened a dialogue on modern African art within the industry and given artists the opportunity to showcase their works on a global platform. Addis Fine Art's portfolio of represented artists includes preeminent modernist painters like Lulseged Retta and Girma Berta.

Locations include Addis Ababa and London.

Larry Gagosian established his eponymous gallery in 1980 with the mission to bring modern and contemporary art to people across the globe. The first exhibit showcased the work of post-war artists like Roy Lichtenstein and Bruce Nauman. Since then, the gallery has expanded to include 16 global exhibition spaces designed by world-renowned architects such as Jean Nouvel and Richard Meier.

Locations include New York, Los Angeles, Rome, Athens, and Basel.

Pulling from his own collection, British businessman Charles Saatchi held the gallery's first exhibition in 1985. The free contemporary art gallery aims to educate the masses about modern art while providing a safe space for young artists to innovate. Creative greats like Andy Warhol and Cy Twombly held a number of exhibitions at the London-based space, as well as burgeoning 21st-century artisans, helping to earn the gallery its renowned reputation.

Located in London.

Gallerist Pearl Lam first began organizing pop-up exhibitions throughout Hong Kong before finally opening a permanent gallery space in 2005. Since then, Pearl Lam Galleries has earned a reputation as a driving force in the Asian contemporary art scene. One of the gallery's most famous events included works by Beijing-based artist Ren Ri, who creates beeswax sculptures that depict the relationship between humans and Mother Nature.

Locations include Hong Kong and Shanghai.

This Swiss institution was founded by Iwan Wirth, Manuela Wirth, and Ursula Hauser in Zurich as an exuberant place to gathering and perform. Hauser & Wirth is known for hosting some of the most dynamic exhibitions within historic buildings transformed to showcase new-age art. Currently, the gallery represents over 80 artists and offers youth programs on art education and sustainability at their Somerset location.

Locations include Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York City, Southampton, Zürich, and Gstaad.

Much like the art scene, the David Zwirner Gallery has evolved over the years to redefine what the traditional gallery experience is like for visitors. The Soho mainstay launched the careers of countless experimental artists who developed interactive and immersive art installations. Most famously, the gallery represents Yayoi Kusama, whose dotty artworks brought in an extraordinary 75,000 visitors. The David Zwirner Gallery also launched a podcast where two makers and thinkers sit down for a deep dive into their creative processes.

Locations include New York, London, and Hong Kong.

Casa Triângulo has been one of the leading players in the São Paulo art scene since its inauguration in 1988. It's one of the first Brazilian galleries to invest in international art fairs, promoting the works of native artists to a global audience. In March 2016, Casa Triângulo settled into a striking new exhibition space designed by Metro Architects, which has allowed them to host ambitious programs and make art more accessible to a larger audience of Brazilians.

Located in São Paulo.

Emmanuel Perrotin began showing works of art in his Paris apartment at the age of 21. Little did he know this would be the origins of the most celebrated French galleries of all time. Galerie Perrotin represents more than 56 artists, including renowned artists Takashi Murakami and Sophie Calle. In recent years, the gallery has ventured into different artistic avenues by collaborating with musicians such as Pharrell Williams.

Locations include Paris, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Shanghai.