Hoping to add an art gallery or two to your Boston itinerary, but don’t know where to begin? You’re not alone. There is an enormous, almost overwhelming, number of galleries to consider – but it’s a good problem to have.
Nonetheless, too many choices can make planning difficult. So we have narrowed things down for you and created a self-guided walking tour of Boston art galleries focused on the city’s famous Newbury Street.
This self-guided walk showcases seven Boston art galleries, starting with the Krakow Witkin Gallery at number 10 Newbury Street and ending just a half mile up with Vose Galleries at number 238. So put on your walking shoes and art appreciation hat and let’s go see some world-class masterpieces.
Must-Visit Art Galleries in Boston
Krakow Witkin Gallery
Named Boston Magazine’s Best Art Gallery in 2021, the Krakow Witkin Gallery starts our walk off with a calm, peaceful vibe. Its focus on the minimalist and conceptual art movements creates a thoughtful space for turning inward and considering our human existence as it interacts with the world around us.
Past shows have included artist Mike Glier, whose exhibit, Bird Songs of the Boston Public Garden, shares his remarkable ability to capture sound in a visual piece of artwork.
Insider’s tip: the Public Garden is just steps away from the Krakow Witkin Gallery, so perhaps start or end there and hear this famous birdsong for yourself.
Galerie D’Orsay
When you’ve soaked up enough minimalist calm from the Krakow Witkin Gallery, a short walk east on Newbury Street brings you to Galerie D’Orsay at number 33. Exhibiting everything from old masters to impressionists and modern artists, Galerie D’Orsay provides a vibrant range of styles, periods, and mediums to stimulate your senses.
If the intersection of art and music piques your curiosity, past Galerie D’orsay exhibitions include The Symphony: Celebrating the Legacy of Hip Hop, a collaboration with fine art graffiti master, SEN-1.
Or fancy yourself a budding (or seasoned!) art collector? Galerie D’Orsay fans rave about their first-rate service for established and newbie collectors alike. And don’t be afraid to ask questions, the staff is very knowledgeable and eager to educate clients and visitors alike.
Robert Klein Gallery
If your head is spinning from the variety of periods, styles, and mediums at Galerie D’Orsay, and you’d like to focus on a single medium for a spell, say photography, then head back across Newbury Street to number 38, the Robert Klein Gallery.
Showcasing internationally renowned fine art photographers like Annie Leibovitz and Hiroshi Sugimoto at its opening in 1980, owner and appraiser Robert Klein continues to exhibit both recognized masters and contemporary artists.
Past series include Arne Svenson’s Neighbors, an aptly named voyeuristic journey through windows showing occupants going about their daily business, presumably unaware they’re being photographed. You might start to feel like you shouldn’t be looking, but it’s hard to look away.
Gallery NAGA
We know your time is valuable, so the next recommendation on the list gives you two exciting Boston art galleries wrapped in one. Not only does number 67 Newbury Street house Gallery NAGA, it was first (and still is) the historic and beautiful Church of the Covenant, one of Boston’s very own National Historic Landmarks. Check their websites ahead of your visit to coordinate opening times so you can tour both.
One type of art we haven’t seen yet on our tour today is furniture. But that changes now because although Gallery NAGA’s primary focus is Boston and New England contemporary painters, they also showcase photography, sculpture, printmakers, and yes, studio furniture.
A notable past exhibit is House-trained: Contemporary Depictions of Dogs, which includes a piece called Beagle Side Table by Judy Kensley McKie.
Copley Society of Art
Interested in seeing the oldest non-profit art association in the United States? You’re in luck! That title goes to Copley Society of Art, the next stop on our Boston art galleries self-guided walking tour.
Formed in 1879 as the Boston Art Students Association, the Copley Society of Art was originally created by the first graduating class of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts as a career support network. Today, members include students, nationally-recognized artists, and patrons.
Past exhibitions include paintings, textile, and mixed media work in Emergence: Art from MFA Boston Staff as well as an open national competition for Edward Hopper-inspired work in Through Hopper’s Lens.
DTR Modern
Claiming Boston Magazine’s Best Art Gallery award for both 2022 and 2023, DTR Modern is a force to be reckoned with in the east coast art world. 2023 marked their 20th anniversary and, in addition to Boston, they boast brick and mortar galleries in New York, Palm Beach, and Washington D.C.
With direct access to studios and archives, DTR provides a dazzling array of work from modern masters, emerging artists, and estates. Past Boston exhibitions include Hunt Slonem’s famous bunny paintings and the fabulous pop art of Nelson De La Nuez.
Vose Galleries
We’ve done a lot of walking and art-gazing, but we’ve got one more before we can sit and relax. Vose Galleries at number 238 Newbury Street will be our last stop on today’s self-guided Boston art galleries walking tour.
Vose Galleries spans five stories of a classic Boston brownstone, with rooms set up to feel just like you’re wandering through someone’s private home. You can imagine yourself the guest of a great art collector, quietly browsing masterpieces adorning their dining and living room walls.
Although Vose specializes in 18th, 19th, and early 20th century American and European realist paintings, they opened a contemporary division in 2001 and now also feature living artists like Cindy House. In the market for your first piece, or looking to grow a collection? Vose offers an impressive list of art for sale, including works under $10,000.
With all of these wonderful art galleries in Boston to visit, it’ll be hard to decide which one to visit first. Once you’ve had your fill of artwork, why not stretch your legs on one of our amazing walking tours of Boston? From the walking through the Freedom Trail and the path of Paul Revere’s midnight ride to the Ultimate Boston Food Tour, you’ll find something for everyone’s taste!
