[8 Art Galleries in Tokyo] You Can See Art Outside of Art Museums! Recommended Galleries You Can Use for Dates
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2022.9.13.UPDATE
Hello everyone. This is GOSUKE, the manager of MONOLiTH, a contemporary art online shopping site.
Where do you go when you want to see art?
I think that there are many museums. Banksy, kaws, Chim↑Pom, etc. are doing a lot of large-scale and interesting exhibitions, so it's fun.
What I would like to introduce this time is an art gallery.
You can see art outside the museum, and you can even buy it.
In this article, we will introduce the charm of such art galleries and introduce recommended art galleries.
What is an art gallery?
An art gallery is primarily a place where artists hold solo or group exhibitions. When I say artists, I don't mean world-famous people like Banksy or Kaws, but rather famous people in the art industry or people just starting out.
Unlike art museums, which are large buildings, art galleries are often small-scale tenants in buildings in the city like this.
Compared to art museums, there are fewer people coming and going, so I was quite nervous when I first entered. Lol I still remember how nervous I was when I first entered an art gallery and sweated profusely.
But it's okay, the gallery is a place for everyone. It is also a place where you can have a lot of fun and see the world around you.
The difference between a museum and an art gallery
What are the main differences between museums and galleries?
scale
Admission fee
artists and works
Purchase availability of works
artist's gallery
I will explain each one.
scale
As mentioned earlier, art galleries are smaller than museums.
In Tokyo, most places are about this size.
It takes about 2 hours to look around the museum, but the art gallery can be seen quickly in about 30 minutes.
Admission fee
Museums cost around 2,000 to 3,000 yen, but most art galleries are free. So you can go there very easily.
There is also a way to enjoy art gallery tour dates without spending money.
artists and works
As I mentioned earlier, art museums employ artists who are well-known to some extent, including the general public, both domestically and internationally, while art galleries are not so well-known in the world, but are active in the art industry. It is characterized by hiring people who are new or fledgling.
Also, art galleries have the aspect of an entertainment agency where artists belong, so it is also a feature that they often hold exhibitions of affiliated artists.
Purchase availability of works
One of the great attractions of art galleries is that you can buy their works.
The works in the museum are owned by the museum or borrowed from artists and collectors, so you cannot buy them, but you can buy the works you like at the art gallery.
In the case of popular artists, they often sell out as soon as the exhibition starts, but as long as they are not sold out, you can purchase them.
I have also made several purchases at art galleries.
artist's gallery
Museums don't have artists who create their work, but art galleries do.
When an artist is in an art gallery, it is called "Zairou", and it is often announced on SNS etc. when the artist is in the gallery.
If you can visit the exhibition while the artist is in the gallery, you can actually talk to him and ask him questions about the work and the artist himself.
I think many people say that they don't know what to say and that they are nervous, but the artist will be very happy if you have the courage to tell them that you were moved by the work. increase. Also, many of the artists are friendly, so you can talk about various things and have a great time.
After learning about the artists and their works, you will come to like them even more and purchase them.
8 Recommended Art Galleries in Tokyo
Then, I think that it is a place to worry about which art gallery is specifically good. Therefore, I have compiled a list of 8 recommended art galleries in Tokyo that I have carefully selected.
Watowa Gallery
An art gallery located between Shibuya and Omotesando.
We are using a space called elephant studio, which is a bit unusual for a gallery, and has two floors.
It specializes in curating contemporary street artists, and there are many artists who have made further strides after holding solo exhibitions here.
I also have the experience of purchasing works at this art gallery.
WATOWA ART AWARD 2021 EXHIBITION
In addition to solo exhibitions, we frequently hold group exhibitions that bring together energetic artists.
It is also the author's recommended gallery that is energetically planning and active, such as holding an art award called WATOWA ART AWARD.
Watowa Gallery
2-7-4 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0002
SH GALLERY
It is no exaggeration to say that this art gallery in the Urahara area of Harajuku is the most active art gallery in Tokyo as of 2022. Many popular artists are enrolled.
Access from the station is also good, and it is a casual gallery that is very easy to enter. We are also actively working on new projects such as exhibitions of art works in which customers participate.
However, depending on the artist, it may be too popular and the line will be long.
SH GALLERY
〒150-0001 3-20-9 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo WAVE Building 3F
off shore
This is mainly an apparel select shop, but we hold solo exhibitions depending on the timing. It was also at this shop that I bought my first work of art.
Located between Harajuku Station and Omotesando Station, it is characterized by the fact that you can enjoy art as an extension of shopping and fashion.
We also mainly use contemporary street artists.
off shore
1F A/B, 3-14-17 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
Art Salon SCÈNE
This art gallery in Omotesando. Above all, the feeling of luxury and calmness of adults is amazing.
In addition, you can see the attention to detail in the way the works are displayed.
The main style of the exhibited works has the impression that there are many stylish ones.
Art Salon SCÈNE
〒107-0062 Ripple Square D-B1, 3-15-6 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
*Advance reservation is required for the exhibition.
SAI Gallery
This art gallery is located in Miyashita Park, a large commercial facility in Shibuya.
It has an atrium and is characterized by a very open feeling. In addition, it is quite spacious and is used not only for solo exhibitions but also as a venue for previews of art auctions.
read column SAI Gallery
〒150-0002 6-20-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo MIYASHITA PARK SOUTH 3F 30800
WHAT CAFE
https://cafe.warehouseofart.org/
Operated by Warehouse TERRADA in Tennozu Isle.
As the name suggests, it is an art gallery attached to a cafe, so you can enjoy eating and drinking at the cafe while looking at the works. Of course it's OK to just look at the work.
The space is also quite large, and it is also characterized by being able to relax and see the works.
Since it is operated by Warehouse TERRADA, events such as live talks are held on holidays, which is very lively.
WHAT CAFE
2-1-11 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0002
Lloyd Works Gallery
https://roidworksgallery.jimdo.com/
An art gallery in Yushima, near Ueno. I personally like the strange location of being in the basement of a large apartment.
A long-established art gallery that has been in business since 2009, we are energetically holding a wide range of exhibitions, from solo exhibitions to group exhibitions, mainly by young artists.
We also produce BS Fuji's TV program "Break Zenya ~Next Generation Artists~", which features the next generation of break artists.
Lloyd Works Gallery Yushima High Town Building B, 4-6-12 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0034
Lurf Museum
An art gallery located a 5-minute walk from Daikanyama Station.
There is a cafe space on the 1st floor, and we offer hand drip coffee that is brewed one cup at a time. You can spend a relaxing and comfortable time while appreciating art.
In addition, we also sell artist goods, mainly Roof Museum original products produced for solo exhibitions.
Lurf Museum
Roob1-1F, 28-13 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0033
Works can be viewed and purchased online
We have introduced art galleries above, but you can actually see and buy works online as well. An online art shop.
This site, MONOLiTH, is one of those online art shops, and unlike art galleries, you cannot directly see the works or talk directly with the artists, but you can take a closer look at the works and examine them carefully. .
For that reason, it is highly recommended for those who feel that going to an art gallery is a bit of a hurdle and difficult due to the distance.
For example, in the case of online, there is the problem of not knowing the size of the work, but MONOLiTH creates a composite image of all works so that you can see the size.
In addition to the works, we also provide information about the artists on our website and Instagram.
I would be very happy if you could consider MONOLiTH when purchasing art!
Click here for the mail order site
Click here for Instagram
At the end
This concludes our introduction to what art galleries are and our recommended art galleries in Tokyo.
Art galleries are a lot of fun and stimulating places to discover new worlds, so please visit them at least once!
Also, please see this article for basic knowledge of art purchases, including art galleries.
Introducing the basic knowledge you need to know when purchasing contemporary art in order to select works that will not fail. A must-see for those who want to buy art!
read column Thank you for reading this far.
See you soon!
MONOLiTH Operation Manager
Gosuke Onoda
