Aberdeen Art Gallery
10 minute walk from Aberdeen station · Dundee, Aberdeen and North East · Free entry
Aberdeen Art Gallery is the city’s primary visual arts exhibition space. Founded in 1884 and officially opened in 1885, the gallery is housed in an award-winning building originally designed by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie. Following an extensive £34.6 million redevelopment completed in 2019, the gallery has been recognized for its outstanding contribution to the built environment and was named a winner of the 2020 ArtFund Museum of the Year Award.
The gallery is historically significant for its unique architecture and its diverse collections. The central hall features striking granite columns in various colors sourced from local and distant quarries, while the 1920s Memorial Court serves as a major war memorial commemorating fallen service members through books of remembrance. Visitors can also find Cowdray Hall on-site, a dedicated concert venue opened in 1925 to encourage the city's taste for music and performance.
Visitors can explore a prestigious permanent collection that spans centuries, featuring 18th-century portraits by Raeburn and Reynolds alongside masterpieces by Impressionists like Monet and Renoir. The gallery is particularly noted for its modern Scottish and international art, showcasing works by Francis Bacon, the Scottish Colourists, and contemporary artists such as Bridget Riley and Ken Currie. In addition to fine paintings, the displays include a sculpture court and a variety of applied arts and crafts.
Visitor information
- Place type
- Gallery
- Good for
- Art & galleries
- Characteristics
- Nationally significant
- Admission
- Free
- Region
- Dundee, Aberdeen and North East
Stations within walking distance
- Aberdeen station — 10 min walk, 0.7 km
Other places near Aberdeen
- Tivoli Theatre — 1 min walk from the station
- The House of Botanicals — 4 min walk from the station
- City of Aberdeen Distillery — 5 min walk from the station
- Aberdeen Maritime Museum — 6 min walk from the station
- Union Terrace Gardens — 7 min walk from the station
- Music Hall — 7 min walk from the station