Best galleries in Slovenia

Art and design – up close.

Impressionism or avant-garde, industrial design or graphic art – Slovenian towns and their galleries are home to the most popular and iconic as well as futuristic works. From Kofetarica (The Coffee Drinker) at the National Gallery of Slovenia – sometimes called the Slovenian Mona Lisa because of her mysterious smile – to light sculptures or colourful murals that surprise passers-by with their guerrilla spirit.

In Slovenia, you can stroll among artworks displayed in buildings that are often works of art themselves. Like the mystical monastic complex dating back to 1234 in Kostanjevica na Krki, Slovenia’s smallest town, which today houses the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. There, it’s not at all unusual to come across a surreal sculpture in the nave of a former church. You’ll also be impressed by the contemporary galleries and creative spaces in the capital, from the monumental extension of the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova to the renovated Cukrarna Gallery in Ljubljana.

Visit Slovenian art and design galleries and museums. Explore diverse styles and periods, and admire the play of colour and brushstrokes of the masters. Let them inspire a more beautiful everyday life – and help you discover your new favourite artwork!

Dvorana s slikami in kipi v narodni galeriji Slovenije

NATIONAL GALLERY OF SLOVENIA – A temple of Slovenian art

While walking through the complex of the National Gallery, you will have the opportunity to explore gems of Slovenian art dating from a period spanning the 13th to the 20th century. You will be able to see works by Slovenian impressionists and their depictions of the Slovenian landscape, glowing in bright colours. You will also see the works of Anton Ažbe, Jurij Šubic, Jožef Petkovšek, a nearly photographic depiction of old folk costumes and customs by Maksim Gaspari and the sophisticated Summer of Ivana Kobilca. The collection is also enriched by the works of the famous Zoran Mušič.

Discover the treasures of the National Gallery

MG+ MUSEUM OF MODERN ART – The excitement of the contemporary

Founded in 1947, the Ljubljana MG+ Museum of Modern Art is housed in a modernist building at the gateway from the city centre to Tivoli Park, designed by the famous architect Edvard Ravnikar. The gallery showcases works by the most prominent Slovenian artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Avgust Černigoj, Jože Ciuha, Riko Debenjak, Irwin, Božidar Jakac, Tone Kralj, Metka Krašovec, Zoran Mušič, Marij Pregelj, Marjetica Potrč, Gabrijel Stupica and many others. It also includes the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova.

Visit the Museum of Modern Art website

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART METELKOVA – Contemporary art in a white beauty

Just a walk away from the Museum of Modern Art, in the Metelkova Museum Quarter, the Museum of Contemporary Art is housed in a striking extension of the former military barracks. It features, among other things, the international Arteast 2000+ collection, with a focus on Eastern European neo-avant-garde artists. Visitors can encounter works by Marina Abramović, Joseph Beuys and Kazimir Malevič, alongside a vibrant programme of exhibitions and events.

Visit MSUM website

MARIBOR ART GALLERY – A place for everyone!

Step into the world of contemporary art in Maribor. Meet the biggest names in Slovenian visual arts of the past century and explore trends on the international art scene. In addition to the works of established artists, the gallery also showcases young rising stars of contemporary art. Explore pressing themes in visual arts, and take part in a creative educational programme that brings together different generations, ethnic communities and educational institutions.

Find out more about Maribor Art Gallery

MAO – Museum of Architecture and Design

Museum or gallery? MAO! Located in a picturesque castle by the Ljubljanica River, MAO is home to architecture, design and photography from the 20th and 21st centuries. Explore its digital archive of over 80,000 pieces by more than 1,000 artists, or wander through the objects, plans, models and other products at one of the exceptional temporary exhibitions, biennials and other events.

Discover MAO

MAO is a space for everyone who wants to explore, study and learn more about how we inhabit our living space, and how we organise, shape, change, label and make it our own.

Museum Lah – a new museum of contemporary art emerging in Bled

Not far from picturesque Lake Bled, at the foot of the castle hill and the oldest castle in Slovenia, a new museum of contemporary art is already under construction. The Lah Contemporary museum will not only be a remarkable new addition to Bled and beyond, but also an architectural landmark. The museum building was designed by the renowned architectural studio David Chipperfield Architects. The museum will house a private collection of Slovenian and international art.

Visit website

The visualisations were provided by David Chipperfield Architects.

KOROŠKA GALLERY OF FINE ARTS – Visual arts in northern Slovenia

In the heart of Slovenj Gradec, this museum of visual arts houses art from the second half of the 20th century onwards. Founded in 1957 as an art pavilion, it has since outgrown its role as a museum and is now an important social institution in the region and beyond. Through its exhibitions and accompanying programmes, it raises important, often overlooked social issues, encourages critical thinking and promotes art education across generations. Its branch gallery, the Ravne Gallery, is located in Ravne na Koroškem.

Visit Koroška Gallery of fine art website

PIRAN COASTAL GALLERIES – From Forma Viva to a former salt warehouse

Founded in 1976, the central gallery institution in Slovenian Istria spans a broad selection of various art collections in several locations. In Piran, there is the Piran City Gallery and the Herman Pečarič Gallery; between Piran and Portorož, a former salt warehouse is home to the Monfort Gallery; and in the heart of Koper, you’ll find the Loža and Meduza galleries. Don’t miss the picturesque, peaceful park on the Seča peninsula, where you can stroll among the stone sculptures of Forma Viva Portorož.

Piran Coastal Galleries - visit website

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MGLC – International Centre of Graphic Arts

Many walking trails lead to the Tivoli Mansion in the heart of Ljubljana’s green Tivoli Park – including the famous Jakopič Promenade, an outdoor gallery. Since 1986, the mansion has been pulsating with the creative interplay of heritage, contemporary art and nature. The International Centre of Graphic Arts is a museum specialising in the art of printing, a producer and host of national and international exhibitions, and a creative studio for the graphic arts. The MGLC also organises the Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts, which is considered one of the oldest and largest international exhibitions of graphic and contemporary visual art in this part of Europe.

MGLC website

BOŽIDAR JAKAC GALLERY – Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in a former monastery

Named after the renowned Slovenian painter, the Božidar Jakac Gallery is housed in a former monastery (founded in 1234) not far from Kostanjevica na Krki, the smallest Slovenian town and the only one located on an island. The gallery spaces, set in striking spaces of former religious buildings, now host temporary exhibitions of contemporary art installations, objects and works. Permanent exhibitions feature works by Slovenian artists of the 20th century, including the Žrebiček (Foal) sculpture by France Kralj, awarded at the Paris World’s Fair in 1937 – the same year Picasso unveiled his Guernica. Be sure to explore the surrounding estate with its Forma Viva sculptures!

Božidar Jakac Gallery website

CUKRARNA – The largest gallery space in a former sugar refinery

On the banks of the Ljubljanica River, towards the Poljane district, just a short walk from the centre of Ljubljana, a new contemporary arts venue and crossroads opened in 2021 in the former Cukrarna sugar refinery. It is considered the largest gallery space in Slovenia. The experience begins as soon as you enter the monumental hall with its distinctive windows. The programme includes visual, intermedia, performance, music, sound and other forms of contemporary art.

Visit Cukrarna

Exhibition preview at Cukrarna: ART VITAL (Ulay + Marina Abramović)

From 30 November 2025 to 6 May 2026, Cukrarna will host Art Vital, a major exhibition exploring the shared work and life of this internationally acclaimed art duo. For the first time, the public will get a multilayered insight into the twelve canonical years (1976–1988) during which Ulay in Marina Abramović lived and created together as two of the most exceptional figures of contemporary performance art.

Visit Art Vital website

Photo in the background:

Ulay / Marina Abramović: Relation in Time, Performance, 17 Hours
Studio G7, Bologna, Italy, 1977
© Ulay / Marina Abramović
With permission of Marina Abramović Archives

Even more galleries – for even more inspiration!

Across Slovenia, a network of galleries – large and small – is dedicated to diverse artistic expressions. Some galleries are found in centuries-old castles, others bring life to urban city centres.

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Creative spaces and experiences

Discover other interesting spaces, events and experiences that shape Slovenia’s vibrant creative and artistic scene.

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Creative art centres and venues

Some of the most exciting locations for lovers of art, culture and creative industries.

Revitalised spaces of industrial heritage

From industry to culture – former factories and industrial areas that are today cultural centres, museums and galleries.

Street art in Slovenia

Street art, graffiti, urban art in Slovenian cities.

Slovenia's cultural transversal

Galleries and museums, festivals and events, and hidden treasures of art in Maribor, Ljubljana and Nova Gorica.

Feel-good towns with Joker Out

Slovenian towns are where the playful meets the timeless. Where the green meets the urban. Explore the many faces of Slovenian towns with Joker Out.

Forma viva and open-air exhibitions

Open-air galleries and exhibitions that can be visited at any time.

Cities, places and spaces for people

The allure of Slovenian cities and towns lies in their ability to evoke a sense of humanity and freedom in visitors.

Stories from Slovenia

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Best galleries in Slovenia

NATIONAL GALLERY OF SLOVENIA – A temple of Slovenian art

MG+ MUSEUM OF MODERN ART – The excitement of the contemporary

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART METELKOVA – Contemporary art in a white beauty