Everything you need to know about Parisian art galleries

Everything you need to know about Parisian art galleries

Paris is one of the most interesting cities in the world. Every corner, every street, every monument is filled with history, culture and arts. As you will be walking Paris, you will see that Parisians attitude, the way they dress, the way they talk, are acts of art. The arts are essential to the understanding of our modern societies. In my opinion, arts are an unconventional way to pass on a message, whether a positive one or a critique.

In Paris, you will find plenty of art galleries, which I think are important if you want to fully experience the Parisian lifestyle. On weekends, the locals love to walk the city and visit some art galleries. If you are curious and love arts, you should do the same! Read on and find out everything you need to know about Parisian art galleries.

What is an art gallery?

An art gallery is very different from a museum. In a museum you know what to expect, because you are usually going to see a specific exhibition, see a specific artist’s works, admire a specific art movement or arts related to a specific historical period. Whereas in art galleries, you are going to discover new artists and their creations. Plus, these works are for sale. You may buy one, and who knows, one day it might end up in a museum. This is the very essence of art galleries: discovering artists and having the opportunity to buy their works.

The purposes of art galleries are to promote art and to support the artists. Note that they are usually open from 11 am to 7 pm.

How much does visiting an art gallery cost?

Visiting an art gallery won’t cost you anything. They are free of charge. You will only need an invitation for the opening nights, which are like a preview of the coming exhibitions. These exhibitions might be dedicated to one single artist or might gather several artists. After the opening night, you can freely visit all the art galleries you want.

Where can I find art galleries in Paris?

If you want to go to art galleries while in Paris, you definitely have to go to the Marais neighborhood! This area of Paris simply contains all the best Parisian art galleries. However, you need to know that some of the art galleries are not on the street, which means you will have to buzz in to get inside the building to visit the art gallery. This will turn out to be a added value to your stay in Paris, because you will get to see the insides of a typical Parisian building and the traditional “cours“!

Here is a list of a few art galleries you might find interesting in Paris:

• Galerie De Medicis, at 18 Place des Vosges;
• DÉBORAH CHOCK, at 20 Place des Vosges;
• Symbol Art Gallery, at 24 Place des Vosges;
• Galerie Artmundi, at 26 Place des Vosges;
• Modus Art Gallery, at 23 Place des Vosges;
• Frank Elbaz Gallery, at 66 Rue de Turenne;
• Carpenters Workshop Gallery, at 54 Rue de la Verrerie;
• W Eric Landau Gallery, at 5 Rue du Grenier-Saint-Lazare;
• Galerie Christian Berst, at 3-5 Passage des Gravilliers;
• Tornabuoni Art, at 9 Rue Charlot.

A few additional informations

First of all, I want you to know that you shouldn’t feel intimidated when entering an art gallery. These places are all about promoting art, so have fun and go enjoy it! You should also keep an open mind. Some of the creations might seem a little controversial, creepy or disturbing. Try to interpret them, try to capture their subliminal messages. Compare them to other works you’ve already seen or to your own experiences. It is a lot of fun and enlightening! Excercise your mind and explore different perspectives on art.

Also, you are usually allowed to take photos or to film in Parisian art galleries. But if you have any doubts, ask if you can to the staff. Then, I can also assure you that there are no dress codes, which means you can visit an art gallery casually dressed.

Almost everything you need to know about Parisian art galleries has now been revealed to you! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article and that it has inspired you and made you more confident about visiting art galleries while in Paris. I am pretty sure you will enjoy the experience. Maybe you will love it so much, you will end up buying one of the works exhibited! This is quite a different kind of souvenir you could be bringing back home from Paris! Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need further information about anything. Also, feel free to share your favorite Parisian art galleries and your thoughts about the experience. See you soon in Paris!