3 Best Art Galleries in Milwaukee, WI

“2026 Update: Var Gallery & Studios is a contemporary art gallery dedicated to supporting both emerging and established artists, locally and nationally. Josh Hintz founded the gallery. Through a diverse array of artistic practices and media, Var Gallery & Studios presents exhibitions that both engage and challenge audiences. The gallery partners with artists, cultural producers, and community members to inspire conversation and facilitate cultural exchange. Var Gallery & Studios offers a dynamic space for enjoying art in a socially interactive atmosphere.”

“2026 Update: David Barnett Gallery presents a wide variety of art, showcasing works by more than 600 artists. The gallery was founded by David Barnett, an artist, collector, and appraiser. Over the past 55 years, David has leveraged his expertise in the arts to donate more than one million dollars’ worth of artwork across Wisconsin. David Barnett Gallery specializes in European and American masters, as well as regional, nationally recognized, and emerging artists. The gallery features artwork by some of the world’s best-known artists, including Chagall, Daumier, Kandinsky, Lichtenstein, Masson, Matisse, Miro, Mucha, Picasso, Rembrandt, and Thiebaud. The collection features works from Latin America and Asia, alongside ethnographic art from Africa, Indonesia, and Oceania. David Barnett Gallery is nationally recognized for its collection of Pablo Picasso ceramics and Milton Avery paintings. The gallery has hosted hundreds of exhibitions featuring local and international artists, both renowned and emerging, as well as works by David Barnett himself. The gallery currently presents new exhibitions four times a year.”

“2026 Update: Tory Folliard Gallery features premier contemporary paintings and sculptures by both established and emerging Midwest artists. The gallery is located in the Phoenix Building, LLC. Tory Folliard Gallery highlights exceptional talent through carefully curated exhibitions, showcasing styles from realism to abstraction, with shows focused on individual artists as well as themed collections. The gallery changes its exhibitions monthly, offering art enthusiasts fresh perspectives on contemporary work. In addition to their rotating exhibitions, Tory Folliard Gallery maintains a large inventory of exceptional pieces for collectors seeking museum-quality art.”