Best Contemporary Art in Albany

The Albany Art Room is a gallery dedicated to the work of artists in the community and entire Capital District. The mission of the art space is to promote visual arts for children as well as adults; some events and workshops include materials to use with the nominal fee. Courses include still-life instruction, painting with oils, drypoint, pottery and many others.

The Albany Center Gallery showcases the work of local artists in the Mohawk Hudson Region, an area that encompasses a large radius in the greater Capital District. The gallery displays artists' work in a large area and it uses this space well when it acts as a local farmers' market for area artists to sell their wares. For almost four decades, the exhibits have included mixed-media, photography, paintings, sculpture and video. and today it continues to be a local institution of Art in Albany.

The Empire State Plaza Art Collection is a great modern art collection that isn't located in a fancy gallery or museum. In fact, the 92 artworks are located in the underground concourse and they line the main pathway which connects various government buildings in this 98-acre public space. Some of the artists included are Paul Jerkins, Robert Motherwell, Adolph Gottlieb and Alexander Calder. Thanks to Governor Nelson Rockefeller's interest in patronizing the arts, this impressive public art collection was made possible.