Explore Copenhagen's Art Galleries and Museums
We have a guide for all you art lovers! Copenhagen is a city brimming full of creativity and our world-class art galleries, museums and art spaces provide places to inspire, discovery, challenge, and explore. From internationally renown art galleries such as the Carlsberg Glyptoteket to Arken's Contemporary art, there is something for every art fan or art curious visitor!
Along with trendy avant garden galleries that can be found around town showcasing rising stars in the art world, we are also proud of our famous galleries such as the National Gallery of Denmark, SMK and Louisiana Modern Art Museum. Find smaller more intimate spaces among the neighbourhood galleries and cultural centers such as the popular Galleri Bo Bjerggaard, V1 Gallery, and Andersen's Contemporary in Vesterbro.
(Header Image:Frederik Næblerød – ALL WALKS OF LIFE. Photo: Anders Sune Berg from Arken Press) 
Kusama's Lights at Lousiana
Design lovers should head straight to The Danish Museum of Art & Design (Designmuseum Danmark) which also presents contemporary art and craft exhibitions and artists exploring new media and concepts.
Copenhagen also has some curious spaces that host exhibitions that are not in the expected galleries and museums. Part of the Royal Danish Library, the Black Diamond often hosts temporary exhibitions related to contemporary art, from paintings and sculpture to digital media. Famous for its architecture, there is always something interesting taking place here. For installations you can visit the large-scale works exhibited around Marmorkirken (The Marble Church). From the big and famous to the smaller experiences, here is our round up of the best art galleries and museums to explore in Copenhagen.
The Institutions
Kunsthal Charlottenborg
Note; Closed in March for CPH:DOX Film Festival! Kunsthal Charlottenborg is one of the most established exhibition spaces in the city and also one of its largest and oldest. Despite its long history it focuses on contemporary art, showcasing international and Danish artists in the heart of Copenhagen. Expect the unexpected with plenty of installations, video, digital and multimedia art. They also have a cinema and a great bookshop. Find out about visiting here - closed Mondays.
Exhibitions on now: Being Safe is Scary by Istanbul-based artist Banu Cennetoğlu until 10th August - a collection of images that intersect daily life and human rights to highlight global issues, Disobedience Archive until 10th August, the MFA Degree Show from 12th August, and Future Ours for the Biennale from 10th June.
SMK (Statens Museum for Kunst)
A Danish institution, The National Gallery of Denmark, SMK, is popular not just for its traditional art collections but also following trends in contemporary art. While it holds collections of classical art, its contemporary exhibitions also make it a vital place for modern art enthusiasts. The museum often hosts exhibitions that mix historical art with current trends.
The Famous Ones
The Glyptotek
The Ny Carlsberg Gyptoteket (New Carlsberg Glyptotek) was founded by the brewer Carl Jacobs in the 19th Century. Famous for the Carlsberg beer and also an avid art collector, he donated this art collection to form the Glyptotek - a collection of mostly Mediterranean and classical art and also Danish and French master painters.
The permanent collection here contains over 10,000 works of art and artefacts! The museum covers civilisations from Ancient Egypt tracing back over the last 6000 years. With archaeological finds and Greek and Roman sculptures, this is an impressive collection of classical art. Right now you can also catch the presentation “Secrets of The Crocodile Mummies” - unusual mummies from Egypt! In the shape of two crocodiles.
08 Vinterhaven af Vilhelm Dahlerup. Glyptoteket © Anders Sune Berg
Open since 1897, the museum has a collection that aims to educate on the importance and history of art, but also to provide a place for peaceful reflection. The Winter Garden (interior garden with fountain and trees) is a perfect little oasis in the city, and the museum and cafe are a great place to explore.
Temporary Exhibitions this year include
- Iconoclasm - Art as a Battleground, until 15th May
An unusual exhibition about what makes us want to destroy art throughout history!
- From August, Petrified Ideals - contemporary voices give their version of stories on the famous marble sculptures.
Free for under 18s and the last Wednesday of the month, discounts for students and 10% discount for adults booking online. Closed Mondays!
James Turrell Aftershock JT01 – JT10: Aftershock, 2021 © James Turrell, Installation view at Copenhagen Contemporary, 2024. Photo by David Stjernholm.
Copenhagen Contemporary (CC)
Copenhagen Contemporary (CC) is located in the former industrial island of the Refshaleøen district. A cultural hub in itself, the area has regenerated to become synomous with creativity. The gallery is huge at over 3,000msq, which makes it one of the largest in the city and the perfect setting for large scale installations and experimental art with a focus on new media, video, sound, and site-specific installations that fit to the space and environment.
CC is spacious and combines immersive and multidisciplinary art with large scale pieces. This makes it an intriguing place to visit and a unique chance to experience art in engaging ways.
Marta Minujín’s Work, courtesy of CC press.
Current exhibitions include Are You a Living Thing That is Dying or a Dying Thing That is Living by Emma Talbot until 21st August, using vibrant colour pictures and installations to query our purpose in life. Marta Minujín’s exhibition Intensify Life is lighting up the centre with its conceptual installations and pop art works by the Argentine artist until 21st April. Danish-Swedish artist Gun Gordillo’s neon lights are also suspended in the art space in his current exhibition. James Turrell’s permanent exhibition Aftershock exudes colour and the interplay with light.
The Out of Town Ones
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Half an hour train ride from Copenhagen central station you can find Louisiana Museum of Modern Art - a world-class art gallery set on the edge of the sea. With over 4,00 works in the permanent collection and art from every genre from 1945 to present day, this museum is an art lover’s dream. An architectural gem of a building, there is also a sculpture garden that is landscaped down to the beach below, and views of Sweden on a clear day. Dazzling in the snow and charming on sunny days, it’s always a great time of year to visit.
The Giacometti Hall - North wing - two-story exhibition space with sculptures by Alberto Giacometti.
Photo: Jeremy Jachym Credit: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
The permanent collection here includes works from international artists such as sculptor Giacometti and Andy Warhol, and local Danish artists. Along with a focus on paintings and sculpture, there are also plenty of installations and digital media.
Currently until April 27th you can see the exhibition Ocean. This is an exploration into our watery world and the influence of our oceans on our stories, mythology and science.
Until 1st June you can see Russian artist Alexej Jawlensky’s paintings. A member of the Blue Rider group, his early 19th century avant-garde pictures are known for their bright use of colour and expression.
Viewing room in the South wing, exterior.
Photo: Ulrik Jantzen. Credit: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Arken Museum
With an unusual location on the sandy beaches just west of Copenhagen in Vestegnen, Arken Museum is an architectural wonder of deconstructive style, jutting from the beach along the city's coastline. Established in the 90s as a cultural centre for contemporary art, the museum is known for its exhibitions of Danish artists, creative workshops and events, and the sculpture park. Closed Mondays.
Solarstalgia by Julian Charriere
Until 21st April
This dramatic exhibition looks at the Earth’s past from 300 million years ago and current issues with nature and climate, through installations of lights, sounds, and visual medium.
All Walks of Life by Frederik Næblerød
Until 21st September
Danish artist Frederik Næblerød has his largest solo exhibition which shows playful and humorous works, known to break boundaries and challenge the viewer, through paintings, installations, ceramic and bronze sculpture.
Eva Helene Pade, The Rite of Spring, 2024-25. Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Coming up…
Forårsofret (The Rite of Spring) by Eva Helene Pade
10th April until 31st August
This exhibition of paintings by Danish artist Pade in her first solo exhibition looks at the present and past with poignant pieces that experiment with “dream-like narratives” from art history.
ARoS Aarhus Art Museum
Although it's located in Aarhus and not in Copenhagen at all, if you have time to explore some more of Denmark then this is an iconic place to visit as one of Denmark's most important contemporary art museums. It is known for its iconic "Your Rainbow Panorama" by Olafur Eliasson (below) and a wide range of contemporary art exhibitions.
The Neighbourhood Ones
There are plenty of smaller and more intimate exhibition spaces dotted around the city, with a little gathering in the trendy neighbourhood of Vesterbro.
Galleri Bo Bjerggaard in Frederiksberg
Bo Bjerggaard was founded in 1999 to show contemporary art gallery and has been located in Lille Strandstræde in the heart of the art scene in Vesterbro the past 17 years, however from this January 2025 the gallery will open its doors at Sankt Knuds Vej in Frederiksberg. It has a long-standing reputation for showcasing innovative and high-quality contemporary art and a lovely sister shop next door. The gallery often exhibits works by both Danish and international artists, and it covers a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, and installation art. The gallery also often features pieces that explore socio-political themes and engage with contemporary cultural issues.
V1 Gallery in Vestebro
This Vesterbro gallery was founded in 2003 and has since become a leading space for contemporary and urban art in the city for both international and local artists. With a dedication to mixed media and urban culture, including graffiti and live performance events, exhibitions here are known for pushing boundaries. V1 Gallery is also known for its collaborations and community influences as an active participant in major international art fairs, such as Art Basel and The Armory Show.
Andersen's Contemporary Gallery in Vesterbro
Known for explorative and challenging art, Andersen's Contemporary is a highly regarded gallery with an emphasis on innovative and experimental practices. The gallery is known for featuring both established and emerging artists. If you like interdisciplinary art then check out this Vesterbro based gallery. Visits by appointment!
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