The Top Art Galleries In the World For Photography
Even in the age of Instagram, photography exhibitions remain popular around the world.
The first ever exhibition was held in 1858, barely twenty years after the first ever photograph had been taken. Since then, numerous galleries have been set up to photography – some specialising entirely in it. Whether you’re looking for iconic photographs or arty experimentalism, here are some of the top places to go around the world.
Yossi Milo, New York City
New York has no shortage of photography museums and galleries including prestigious attractions such as the Aperture Gallery and Bonni Benrubi Gallery. However, it’s hard to beat Yossi Milo’s collected works. The gallery specialises in exhibiting the fine art photographic works of emerging artists from around the globe. It regularly hosts new exhibitions and events, which can be found on the gallery’s website.
Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco
Fraenkel Gallery was established in 1979 and has presented 300 exhibitions to date, most of which are photography-based. The likes of Diane Arbus and Walker Evans have had their works presented in this gallery making it a highly respected place for any artist to have an exhibition. Fraenkel Gallery hosts a number of events each year, getting involved with the local art community and always keeping its contents fresh. During certain times of the year it may close temporarily to the public to set up new exhibitions.
Camera Work, Berlin
Berlin’s Camera Work contains everything from contemporary art to 19th Century photography. It is one of the bigger and more extensive galleries in the world dedicated to photography and has featured works from names as big as Man Ray and Helmut Newton. Many new photographers that have had their works displayed here have gone on to have budding careers. It has an impressive reputation for discovering new talent and is a popular hotspot for aspiring photographers. Those in Berlin should also visit the CWC gallery co-owned by Camera Work.
The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh
The biggest museum dedicated to a single artist, The Andy Warhol Museum is a Mecca for fans of pop art and contains many photographic works from the iconic artist himself. In fact, 4000 of the art pieces in the Andy Warhol Museum are photographs, from works on paper to prints. The museum also contains a number of sculptures, videos and famous paintings as well as offering a look into the eccentric artist’s personal life. New works by Andy Warhol are constantly being discovered and donated to the museum making each visit fresh.
The Photographer’s Gallery, London
The Photographer’s Gallery has everything from historical archived photos to modern works from emerging artists. It’s the largest public gallery in London and has been open since 1971, putting on a number of impressive exhibitions within that time. The Photographer’s Gallery also host plenty of community events which are worth looking out for. You can also purchase many prints and photographic works from the gallery through their website.
Galleria Carla Sozzani, Milan
The Galleria Carla Sozzani is one of the more prominent photography galleries in the world. They annually host the World Press Photo Show, which attracts many famous names each year. They also display many works themed around fashion, architecture and design, bringing in fans from other big creative industries. The likes of Berenice Abbot and Guy Bourdin have had works displayed here. If you’re eager to explore the artistic side of Milan, don’t forget to visit this gallery.
Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo
Japan has its fair share of photographic art museums, spanning all different photography niches. The Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, established in 1995, might just be the most extensive and impressive of the lot, featuring a whopping 33,000 works. As well as displaying the best of Japanese photographic art, there are plenty of international works here too. The museum even has a giant library in it for referencing. The museums regularly hosts events and gets involved in local art projects..This is a contributed article written for WhimMagazine.com