Best Hidden Art Galleries Around Boston
It is easy to find the big galleries associated with Boston's greatest art institutions. However, the hidden gems, tucked away inside and outside of Boston's art districts, are harder to find. These are great places to see little known artists and unusual exhibitions. For even more ideas, go to one of these places and ask the artists in residence what their favorite hidden art galleries are. There is no shortage of them in any Boston neighborhood.
FPAC Gallery
300 Summer St.
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 423-4299
www.fortpointarts.org
The Fort Point Arts Community Gallery is home to the artists of the Fort Point Arts Community. New exhibitions crop up every few months, so guests can come back several times a year to see what's new. Sometimes, there are group projects on display while other exhibitions feature a single artist. However, visitors can hit the community store any time of year to see work from dozens of the community's artists all at once. Also keep an eye out for FPAC Open Studios. The Gallery is great, but open studios can keep art fans busy for days.
Related: Boston's Best Photography Galleries
The Hidden Art Gallery
25 Myrtle St.
Boston, MA 02114
(857) 919-4278
www.thehiddenartgallery.com
Beacon Hill's The Hidden Art Gallery may not be the most unnoticed gem in the city, but there are still a few secrets in one of the city's most beautiful and exclusive neighborhoods. This gallery is home to artists Zoila Arguello and Patrick Anderson. Arguello paints landscapes and spiritual paintings that evoke the work of Rothko and Monet. Anderson is a realist who plays with light in his paintings to create beautiful cityscapes of Boston. Be sure to check the website for current and upcoming exhibitions as well as pieces that are currently available for purchase.
Thomas Young Gallery
516 E 2nd St.
Boston, MA 02127
(617) 752-2504
www.thomasyounggallery.com
The Thomas Young Gallery is named for a Revolutionary War patriot, but the art the gallery displays is anything but dated. Everything from performance art to curated collections of photographs and paintings make up the various exhibitions visitors can check out at this 2nd St. gallery. The gallery also hosts artist talks for those who want to learn more about the pieces they see or learn more about the artists behind the art. See the website to find out about past and upcoming projects at the Thomas Young Gallery.
13Forest Gallery
167A Massachusetts Ave.
Arlington, MA 02474
(781) 641-3333
www.13forest.com
The best thing about 13Forest Gallery is the wide variety of artists and mediums celebrated there. Visitors can find jewelry, paintings, mixed media, photographs, sculptures and more. Guests can see a number of different ideas expressed in the gallery's exhibitions, such as an exhibit focusing on the struggle of commercial artists who try to balance their own work with creating pieces for commercial clients. Shop the gallery online or come in for an exhibition.
1486 Dorchester Ave.
Boston, MA 02122
www.howardartproject.wordpress.com
According to The Howard Art Project's website, it is "particularly invested in emerging, under-represented, non-traditional and cross- disciplinary approaches to artistic production." The gallery plays host to exhibits, workshops, lectures and performance art in this vein. There are more than a dozen resident artists at The Howard Art Project. However, it works primarily on proposals from artists who want to curate an exhibition or host an art event at the second-floor gallery.