Yangon is an inspiring place — full of rich history, glorious pagodas, and distinctive everyday scenery. It’s no wonder it’s spawned so much art throughout its history, and in more recent years, from both homegrown and foreign artists producing contemporary pieces.
If you’re curious about what these artists, past and present, have created, then look no further than Yangon’s best galleries for visual arts. Here’s a rundown of these spaces and where you can find them.
One of the city’s better-known galleries, this sprawling space in a colonial-style building offers a full roster of events as well as art tours around the city. On their always-busy calendar of events, they offer concerts, poetry readings, dance events, life drawing sessions, artist talks, lectures and tours.
They focus on featuring contemporary artists living in Myanmar and, in addition to the gallery and exhibition space, they have a reading room where guests can read up on all kinds of art for fun or reference.
98 Bogalay Zay St., 3rd floor
Botataung Township
New on the scene, opening just last year, this gallery focuses on local art at affordable prices. They keep their sights on Burmese art in all forms and mediums, from paintings to sculpture to installation art. Part of their mission is also to welcome art newbies into their space, chatting about and explaining the various fine points of Burmese art and generally helping to grow the country’s up-and-coming art scene.
23 Gyoe Phyu Rd.
This charming place works hard to highlight Myanmar contemporary artists. Open for 12 years, they represent over 40 emerging artists and also set up international shows for their roster of talent, who can work in all kinds of mediums as long as their work is contemporary.
Housed in a small heritage building, the gallery acts as a platform for giving Myanmar’s contemporary artists a local and global voice and exposure to a citywide and international audience.
Chindwin Chambers
33-35 37th and 38th St.
Another contemporary-centered spot, this gallery is inside People’s Park Compound near Shwedagon pagoda.
Open since 2014, they boast one of the largest gallery spaces in the city and switch things up pretty regularly, meaning there’s regularly a reason to stop by. They claim to have had over 200 art shows since they opened their doors and are especially fond of supporting young and emerging artists.
They also feature a cutting-edge lighting system, so it’s a great spot to be able to see the finer details in artwork.
People’s Park Compound
Ahlon Road
With a motto of “Truth, Beauty, Love,” this gallery is the city’s oldest gallery, first opening its doors in 1971. Run as a non-profit NGO, the gallery showcases both contemporary and academic art and has two halls to display the works separately.
They feature classic Burmese artists as well as up-and-coming talents, plus host the occasional exhibit of work by late masters, embassy exhibitions, and photo exhibitions and competitions.
62 Pansodan St.
Corner of Merchant Street
