Art and culture play a significant role in Bahrain’s communities, so it won’t surprise you to know there are several art galleries in Bahrain well worth a visit.
Not only does Bahrain have some fantastic museums, it’s also home to dozens of top art galleries featuring the works of artists from the Kingdom and the Middle East.
It’s also set to be home to a significant new art project for the Middle East, the Bahrain Museum of Contemporary Art, a 10,000 sq m space designed by the late Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid.
Although the plans are yet to come to fruition, this stunning Bahrain art museum would house permanent and temporary exhibitions, a performance auditorium, studios for artists in residence, a café and a restaurant.
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In the meantime, whether you’re interested in buying art, or just want to admire some amazing paintings and sculptures, there are plenty of art galleries in Bahrain.
Read on for our pick of Bahrain’s top art galleries, art museums, and community art hubs.
14 art galleries in Bahrain to check out:
56 Art Gallery
The 56 Art Gallery aims to showcase the creative talents of Bahraini and GCC artists. This is one of the art galleries in Bahrain that wants to help people with no prior art experience to get involved in the process of art and collecting.
Find it in Gufool, set within a historic building constructed by the late architect Mahmood Akbari in 1968 which was restored last year.
Various timings. Muharraq. @56.artgallery (6666 1956).
Albareh Art Gallery
This is one of the absolute must-visit art galleries in Bahrain. Albareh Art Gallery has all kinds of contemporary pieces, from paintings to sculptures and everything in between, from across the Middle East, and is dedicated to finding the latest undiscovered talents.
Artists who have hosted exhibitions here in the recent past include Bahraini artists Mohammed Al Mahdi and Fareed Buqais, and Egyptian artist Hazem Taha Hussein.
Sat-Thu 9.30am-1.30pm and 4pm-8pm, Fri closed. Adliya @albarehartgallery (1771 7707).
Al Jasra Handicrafts Centre
The Al Jasra Handicrafts Centre might be best described as a living museum, but definitely still worth a visit when on the hunt for excellent art galleries in Bahrain.
Head here and you’ll be able to see Bahraini craftswomen working on pieces such as pottery or weaving baskets, and you can even pick up some unique souvenirs at the gift shop.
The house itself dates back to 1907 and was built in the traditional style, so make sure you check out the architecture too.
Sun-Thu 8am-2pm, Fri-Sat closed. Al Jasra (1761 1900).
Al Riwaq Art Space
This non-profit arts organisation has become a community hub, hosting in-gallery dinners, open mic events and kids art clubs, as well as exhibitions and workshops.
There are regular open calls for exhibitions, so if you’re a budding artist, this is one of the fabulous art galleries in Bahrain to showcase your work.
Sat-Thu, 10am-8pm, Fri closed. Manama. @alriwaq (1771 7441).
Akkas Gallery
Saar is known to be a relaxed but vibrant area with tons of creative restaurants, cafes, malls, and art galleries in Bahrain.
Akkas Gallery is a creative art space offering a variety of services including art exhibitions, photography, design, and workshops. It has a beautiful cultural spot with a large (we mean more than 10,000 books large) private collection of books.
Sat-Thu 9am-4pm. Building 1892, Road 1331, Block 513, Saar. @akkasgallery (3998 8640).
Arabesque Art Gallery
Looking for well-established art galleries in Bahrain? First opened back in 1975, the Arabesque Art Gallery features the works of Bahraini Artist Wahab Al Kooheji, as well as old maps of Arabia and lithograths by David Roberts dating back to the 19th century.
You can also buy a number of artworks from the gallery if you’re looking for unique pieces to decorate your new home.
Sat-Thu 9am-6pm. Adliya @arabesque_art_gallery (1772 2916).
Art Centre
Managed by the Ministry of Culture, the Art Centre features modern and contemporary arts from both local and international artists. This is one of the brilliant art galleries in Bahrain that puts on plenty of exhibitions throughout the year and also organises talks and workshops.
You can find out all about the latest exhibitions on the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities website here.
Daily, 9am-8pm. Next to Bahrain National Museum, Manama, culture.gov.bh (1729 8777)
Bait Al Salmaniya
There aren’t many places where you could head to learn how to play the ukulele, watch movie screenings and practice your calligraphy, but Bait Al Salmaniya has all kinds of workshops you can attend.
The community space also regularly hosts exhibitions and talks by artists, and is a real cultural hub in Bahrain.
Open daily 10am-7.30pm. Salmaniya, Manama @baitalsalmaniya (3801 7421).
Beit Al Quran
The House of Quran is a must visit for anyone interested in learning more about Islam. It has a huge number of manuscripts dating back to the 7th century, as well as an impressive collection Islamic art. Like many museums and art galleries in Bahrain, this space also hosts art exhibitions throughout the year.
Sun-Wed 8.30am-2.30pm, Thu & Sat 8.30am-1.30pm, Fri closed. Hoora, Manama (1729 0101).
Busaad Art Gallery
Celebrated Bahraini artist Ebrahim Busaad’s former family home now plays host to a huge collection of his work.
His paintings, which feature bold and bright colours, have been shown across the globe in places including the British Museum in London and the National Museum of Fine Arts in Jordan, but you’ll need to visit the Busaad Art Gallery to get a real feel for his work.
When it comes to excellent art galleries in Bahrain, this is a top choice.
Sat-Thu 9am-1pm and 4pm-8pm, Fri closed. Muharraq @busaadartgallery (1700 0020).
Jehan Saleh Gallery and Printmaking Studio
It should come as no surprise to anyone that Jehan Saleh Gallery and Printmaking Studio is dedicated to printmaking. It features the works of curator Jehan Saleh and female printmakers across Bahrain including Zakeya Zada and Mayasa Al Sowaidi.
You can also book onto printmaking workshops hosted by Saleh, including art classes for kids which are very popular during school holidays.
Sun-Thu 10am-6pm. Art Concept Gallery, Andalus Garden. @jehansaleh_studio (3330 9294).
La Fontaine Centre for Contemporary Art
We’ve always found walking around art galleries in Bahrain to be quite relaxing, but you can take that to the next level at La Fontaine Centre for Contemporary Art, which also has a spa inside.
The centre was Bahrain’s first private museum and hosts a number of exhibitions throughout the year, as well as movie screening nights. The restaurant is well worth a visit, too.
Tue-Sun 11am-11pm, Mon closed. Manama. lafontaineartcentre.net (1723 0123).
Moonlight Gallery Café
As the name suggests, this is one of the very few unique art galleries in Bahrain with a quirky blend of art and a cute café. You’ll sit surrounded by sculptures and paintings and become completely immersed in Bahrain’s art scene.
The art here is deep and emotional – think beauty inspired by the chaos of life.
There’s a wide choice of hot and cold beverages and speciality cakes, too.
Open daily 4pm-10pm. Riffa. @moonlight.gallery.bh (7710 0355).
Sheikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research
The Bin Matar House, which is run by the Sheikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research, showcases work from local and international artists, with exhibitions throughout the year.
The centre also hosts a number of artist talks, workshops and lectures, and is dedicated to helping new and emerging artists engage with a wider audience.
Sat-Thu 8am-1pm and 4pm-7pm, Fri closed. Muharraq shaikhebrahimcenter.org (1732 2549).
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