The upper floors of an expansive Colonial building have been turned into a vast exhibition space for Rio's local art collective. Called A Gentil Carioca, the building itself is worth a visit. There are new exhibitions every month or so, many of which invite visitor interaction. While the installations are generally thought-provoking, most interesting of all is to take a peek out of the windows and view Downtown Rio's street scene from above. From the street vendors and working girls to the crumbling mansion houses, it is a fascinating vista. Entrance to the gallery is free.
Colorful, beautifully-crafted artesan products from across Brazil compete for space in your suitcase at Pé de Boi. This combination shop and art gallery stocks traditional handicrafts that include hand-crafted vases, jugs and bowls; wonderfully soft hammocks and colouful ceramics, all bought directly from individual artists across the country. Pé de Boi has been a huge success since its inception in 1985, and items sourced by the store have been exhibited at New York's Guggenheim Museum and the Cartier Foundation in Paris. If you're looking for a souvenir that is more than mass-produced tourist tat, Pé de Boi should be your first port of call. - Lucy Bryson
Anita Schwartz Galeria de Arte is one of the esteemed contemporary art galleries in the city that promotes Brazilian artists and showcases some of the top names in the art world of Brazil. This three level modern building has the main exhibitions in its ground floor room and on the second level is a smaller exhibition space, which has a terrace for video installations. This gallery is a great place to get a glimpse of the local art scene.
This compact space is a part of the Urban Art family that has galleries all around Brazil. This trendy, digital gallery showcases top-notch artists, illustrators and designers as well as upcoming ones that is funky and interesting. The collection ranges from posters, paintings to wall stickers, laptop skins, tote bags, pillows, mugs and more. The exhibits are all temporary as the artists change regularly. Visit the Rio branch to add some color and a dash of indie creativity in your itinerary.
Gam Arte e Molduras is a chic gallery that has an impressive collection of contemporary and modern art paintings, sculptures and photographs. They also specialize in frames which suit the beautiful artworks. The gallery focuses on customizing their photos according to the clients' needs and are into art consulting for corporate houses and private residences.