We couldn’t finish this month’s special series of blog articles in collaboration with The Culture Trip without tapping into their expert knowledge of art and culture from around the world.
Chile’s capital city of Santiago de Chile has a number of hidden and exclusive gems to discover around every corner.
Santiago’s independent art galleries offer a unique insight into the direction of Chile’s exciting contemporary art scene which you will get to discover in our list of top 5 contemporary art galleries in Santiago.
Not Vital exhibit at Patricia Ready Gallery / Source
♦ Galeria Patricia Ready (Calle Espoz 3125, Vitacura)
The art complex at Galeria Patricia Ready in the beautiful neighborhood of Vitacura is in itself a piece of contemporary art.
With water features, exposed cement and floor to ceiling glass windows; the Galeria Patricia Ready is an absolute joy to walk around.
Promoting the work of contemporary artists, photographers and sculptors from across Chile and around the world this stunning exhibition space is putting contemporary Chilean art on the map. If contemporary art isn’t your thing, walking around the Patricia Ready Gallery is worth it even if it is just to appreciate the architecture of the building and its on-site bistro café, Cilantro which overlooks the gallery’s central courtyard.
Patricia Ready Gallery / Source
♦ Galeria Tajamar (Av. Providencia 1100, Providencia)
No gallery experience is as unique as seeing the Galeria Tajamar in Santiago’s nouveau riche neighborhood of Providencia. Off the tourist map, this small outdoor art space is a prime example of the hidden treasures within Santiago.
The independent Tajamar Gallery is located in the central square of Tajamar Towers and with its unique hexagonal design and clear glass windows, the art exhibits can be enjoyed from all angles and all hours of the day.
This open experience is part of the beauty of this art exhibition which creates a unique relationship and interaction between those passing-by and its urban surroundings. The exhibits featured in this cutting-edge gallery come from the most promising artists across South America which are waiting for you to enjoy them.
Valentina Matzner (des)conjunto exhibit at Galeria Tajamar
♦ Plop! (Merced 349, Barrio Lastarria)
You can enjoy a unique gallery experience at Chile’s first gallery dedicated to illustration and comics. Located in Santiago’s Lastarria neighborhood Plop! Gallery has temporary exhibits as well as attracting those interested in the art of drawing.
A vibrant center showing the best of Chilean and international cartoon illustration as well as producing a series of limited edition works, the gallery is also home to illustration workshops meaning you can get in touch with your creative side.
Situated in Barrio Lastarria means that it is close to some of Santiago’s best restaurants and bars which you can enjoy after you have visited the gallery.
Duplex Exhibit by Vicente Martí & Patricio Otniel at Plop! / Source
♦ Galeria Animal (Av. Nueva Costanera 3731, Vitacura)
In the affluent Santiago barrio of Vitacura you will find the contemporary art gallery of Galeria Animal which is housed in a modernist concrete building on one of the city’s most fashionable streets.
The large-scale exhibits housed within this purpose built gallery include sculptures and other contemporary artwork illustrations which can be categorized as experimental art.
As well as the ultra-modern, the gallery also has a number of classics from world renowned artists and the fathers of contemporary artwork such as Chagall and Picasso. Animal Gallery also boasts being the most well-known and established publisher of graphic art books in the whole of Chile!
Inside Galeria Animal / Source
♦ Isabel Aninat Galeria de Arte (Calle Espoz 3100, Vitacura)
The Galeria de Arte Isabel Aninat in the Vitacura neighborhood of Santiago is one of the most well-known contemporary art galleries outside of Chile.
With two floors of both individual and collective artwork you will find a wide variety of genres such as paintings, sculptures and engravings.
Run by its owner, Isabel Aninat, she is always on the search to exhibit the artwork of new contemporary artists from Chile, Latin America and around the world meaning you might see the next top contemporary artist before they get on to the international art scene!
Isabel Aninat Art Gallery / Source
For more articles on Chile’s art and culture; handpicked local galleries; local books, films, music and apps recommendations; local cultural events and tours; and a selection of restaurants and hotels – take a look at http://theculturetrip.com/south-america/chile/.
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