From Yugoslav contemporary art in Dedinje and internationally acclaimed artists in the MoCAB to independent art spaces in the Dorcol historical neighborhood, Belgrade is home to a number of contemporary art galleries. The art scene is opulent, works of Belgrade-based but also foreign artists are displayed in local art galleries. Some art spaces are public institutions such as MoCAB (Museum of Contemporary Art Belgrade) and KCB (Cultural Centre Belgrade), whereas others are independent. This is our selection of must-visit galleries, cultural centers, and art spaces in Belgrade.

Legat Colakovic
Colakovic legacy

Let’s kick off with the Museum of Contemporary Art Belgrade (MoCAB). The museum is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and represents a masterpiece of modernist architecture from 1961. The MoCAB is renovated and ready to host major retrospectives and exhibitions.

muzej_savremene_umetnosti_medium
MoCAB

In the possession of MoCAB there are 3 additional spaces: The Colakovic legacy, Gallery of Petar Dobrovic, and The Salon of the Museum of Contemporary Art. The first two Colakovic legacy (architectural masterpiece as well) and Petar Dobrovic gallery are must-visit places if you are interested in Serbian and Yugoslav art and art history. The Salon of MoCAB is located at 14 Pariska St. (Old Town) and exhibits cutting-edge artworks from well-established local and foreign artists.

On Dedinje, near the Colakovic legacy, a genuine art connoisseur would make an effort to visit the house and Legacy of Petar Lubarda– an award-winning Yugoslav artist from the 20 century. This is a must-visit legacy if you wish to explore Yugoslav art. Address: 1 Iliciceva St. 

Another prominent art institution is KCB (Culture Centre Belgrade). Exhibitions, panel discussions, lectures, concerts, and film festivals take place in KCB… In galleries, but also all around the city, the Cultural Centre of Belgrade organizes the most relevant international visual arts exhibition – The October Salon. The Cultural Centre art programme gives an insight into the contemporary art scene through regular curated exhibitions of local and international artists. There are two galleries in the same building: Fine Art Gallery, and the Artget which is focused on photography.

In the main pedestrian, street visitors can drop by the gallery PROGRES which showcases retrospectives from Serbian and Yugoslav artists, but also more contemporary artists, and ULUS (Association of Serbian Artists) which hosts exhibitions of Serbian artists. Just around the corner is a private museum ZEPTER, which houses Serbian and Yugoslav artists from the second part of 20 century. Likewise, the Museum of Applied Arts stands on Toplicin venac and hosts student exhibitions from the University of Arts and the Faculty of Architecture. The Servantes Institute, the French Cultural Centre, and the Goethe Institute are located on the main pedestrian street and are also worth visiting.

Marina in SKC

We would also like to mention the SKC gallery. This is a gallery of the Student Cultural Centre where famous performance artist Marina Abramovic began her rich career. As well, the hidden gallery in Dom Omladine (Youth Centre) hosts great exhibitions from local artists.

mural beograd
The Mural “Fight, Knowledge & Equality” stands next to Culture Centre Stari Grad

In the Upper Dorcol area, visitors often come across Culture Centre Stari Grad, which is located in the architectural masterpiece from the 1920s. The building is a mixture of Art Deco and Serbian Modernism. The building itself has the shape of a steamboat since it was the headquarter of the first Danube steamboat society. The culture center hosts exhibitions, talks, theater, debates, and cinema.

It is worth mentioning that the independent art scene started to develop in the 1990s in Belgrade! There are plenty of galleries and art spaces that can fill your artistic and aesthetic needs and desires. We would like to point out REMONT gallery, OZON, ZVONO, U10, VITAMIN X, Balkan cinema, Hestia, Eugster II Belgrade, November gallery, Culture Centre Grad, Magacin and Ostavinska galerija, etc…Those are all galleries and art spaces that explore contemporary art mediums and techniques.

Cultural Centre Grad -KC Grad in Savamala

In the historical area of Savamala one can find Cultural Centre Grad, Magacin in Kraljevica Marka St., Ostavinska gallery, and Stab gallery in the new residential area Belgrade Waterfront.

KC Grad is a multi-functional space for various events ranging from parties, concerts, art exhibitions, fashion shows, movie projections, workshops, etc.  In a nutshell, it’s a ‘cultural center’, located in a former warehouse dating from 1884, in an inner-city former industrial zone known as Savamala. The club is a favorite haunting place for Belgrade hipsters and art lovers, and in broad daylight, it functions as a coffee bar. It is definitely a place worth a visit.

Novembar gallery

In the historical area of Vracar, one can find also a very peculiar art scene. We would like to point out the Vitamin X gallery in Resavska 19 and November gallery in Kursulina St.

In our favorite Dorcol, art lovers can try visiting some of the new art spaces such as Kulturni Centar Dorcol, DOTS, No concept gallery, Monolog, and Kula in Cetinjska St.

As well, do not miss out on Eugster II Belgrade which stands in a converted warehouse in a former industrial area of Palilula. This London-like art space offers cutting-edge art from Serbian and foreign art scenes.

Eugster II Belgrade

When it comes to the New Belgrade art scene we would like to point out Blok gallery in Jurija Gagarina St.

New Belgrade, SIV Palace (Still in Belgrade bike tour)

A group of young enthusiasts has established Kvaka 22 in 2015. This empty and neglected space was accidentally discovered by one of the guys from the group. The squatters who lived there left 22 door handles (Kvaka) missing from the doors and that fact triggered the idea for the name of the space. Kvaka’s program includes art exhibitions, the Kvaka 22 museum with exhibits from the period of former SFR Yugoslavia, studios, concerts, DJ gigs, and live performances.

Ciglana Klub Ljubitelja Teske Industrije

Ciglana Klub Teške Industrije is located a bit far from the inner-city in Visnjicka Banja. This huge brownfield was turned into a club, exhibition space (large sculptures and installations), and a concert hall. Ciglana hosts the Devet festival that focuses on art and design, creativity, and music.

Serbian architects Ivan Kucina and Nenad Katić, together with an art collector and creator Vladimir Macura, have designed a Museum for the art collection Macura in Novi Banovci. Museum Macura is the first designated museum object built in Serbia after Belgrade’s Museum of Contemporary Art in 1961, and the Museum of African Art in 1972. The Museum Macura was opened in May 2008 and represents an important component of the Serbian art scene. The museum features the art collection Macura which is one of the largest private collections of modern art in the region of south-east Europe and comprises the works of 20th-century avant-garde artists, with much focus on early 20th century movements such as Dada, Zenithism, Surrealism, Constructivism, Viennese activism, and others. It includes painting and sculpture, as well as industrial design. 

Macura’s contemporary art collection is complemented by exhaustive original documentation in form of photographs, letters, magazines, and artifacts that contribute to a better understanding of the artists and movements themselves.

Location: Museum is located in a rural setting on the top of the cliff overlooking the river Danube, in Novi Banovci near Belgrade.

1 Zenit St, Novi Banovci, Serbia (also try to visit the Macura warehouse)

Old Mill Hotel, photo credits@ Aleksandar Rados. Source: www.arketipomagazine.it

It should be pointed out that Catalan photographer David Pujado organizes pop-up photography exhibitions in the Old Mill hotel and the annual Belgrade Photo Month festival.

Still in Belgrade Tours

If you wish to explore the creative side of Belgrade you can book one of our BELGRADE ART TOURS.