Are you passionate about music and its history? Are you a fan of contemporary creativity? These are the modern art museums you should visit in Scandinavia:
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Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art
OsloThe Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, located in Oslo, Norway, is a privately owned contemporary art gallery. It was established and opened to the public in 1993, making it a relatively recent addition to the city's cultural scene. The museum is known for its collection of modern and contemporary art, and it has become a significant cultural institution in Norway. 2
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
HumlebækThe Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, previously known as the Museum for Modern Art, is a Danish museum for modern art located in Humlebæk in Fredensborg Municipality in North Zealand. The museum was inaugurated on August 14, 1958, and has since become a significant cultural landmark in Denmark. It offers a unique blend of art, architecture, and landscape, attracting approximately 600,000 visitors annually, making it one of Denmark's most visited museums. 3
ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum
AarhusThe ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum is an art museum in Aarhus. The museum comprises a total of 20,700 square metres on ten floors, which makes it one of the largest art museums in Northern Europe. The ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum features four galleries, the ARoS Focus gallery, a floor with installations. In ea 4
The Tromsø Gallery of Contemporary Art
TromsøThe Tromsø Art Association, known as Tromsø Kunstforening in Norwegian, has a rich history dating back to 1877. It has been in continuous operation since 1924, making it one of the oldest cultural institutions in Tromsø. This long-standing presence in the city's cultural scene has allowed it to become a significant reference point for art in Northern Norway. 5
Värmlands Museum
KarlstadCounty museum displaying traditional as well as upbeat contemporary art related to the Värmland. 6
Lillehammer Art Museum
LillehammerThe Lillehammer Art Museum boasts three main collections. The first collection consists of over 100 paintings from the Matisse school, donated by the museum's founder, Einar Lunde, in the 1920s. The second collection was donated by antique dealer Oscar Johannesen in 1958 and includes a wide range of 19th-century pieces. The third and most recent collection was donated by Jon Dobloug in 2008, featuring 159 paintings from the 1980s and 1990s. 7
Munch Museum
OsloThe Munch Museum, also known as Munch since 2020, is an art museum located in Bjørvika, Oslo, Norway. The museum is dedicated to showcasing the life and works of the renowned Norwegian artist, Edvard Munch. It provides a comprehensive insight into Munch's artistic journey and his significant contributions to the world of art. 8
National Gallery of Denmark
CopenhagenThe National Gallery of Denmark (SMK – Statens Museum for Kunst) is the Danish national gallery, located in Copenhagen. The museum was built in 1896 and designed by the architects Vilhelm Dahlerup and Georg E.W. Miller. In 1970 the building was expanded by architect Niels Koppel and in 1998 a modern 9
Northern Norwegian Art Museum
TromsøThe Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, a visual arts museum in Northern Norway, holds a significant role in the region's cultural landscape. Established in 1985, the museum moved to its current location in Tromsø in 2001. The building, originally designed by architect Søren Andreas Wiese-Opsahl in 1917, has a rich history, having served as a post and telegraph office and later as a police station. 10
National Gallery
OsloThe National Gallery of Norway, situated in Oslo, is a significant part of the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design. Since 2003, it has been a part of this larger institution, offering visitors a comprehensive look at Norwegian and international art, architecture, and design. 11
The National Museum – Architecture
OsloThe National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, located in Oslo, Norway, was established in 2003. It is a result of the merger of five institutions: the National Gallery of Oslo, founded in 1836, the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, in 1876, the Riksutstillinger (1953), the National Museum of Architecture (1975) and the Museum of Contemporary Art (1988). 12
The Art Nouveau Centre & the Art Museum KUBE
ÅlesundThe Jugendstilsenteret, located in Ålesund, is a part of the Stiftelsen Kulturkvartalet. It was established under the leadership of Thor W. Bjørlo and was officially inaugurated by the Norwegian queen Sonja on June 6, 2003. This historical context adds to the cultural significance of the center. 13
Southern Norway Art Museum
KristiansandThe Sørlandet Art Museum is not just a repository of art, but also a platform for promoting interest, knowledge, and competence in visual arts, crafts, and other visual forms of expression. The museum's collection includes both art and crafts, offering visitors a comprehensive view of the region's artistic heritage. 14
Sogn og Fjordane Art Museum
FørdeThe Sogn og Fjordane Art Museum, situated in Førde, Norway, has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1987. This museum is a significant cultural institution in the region, offering visitors a chance to explore a wide range of art collections. 15
Moderna Museet - Stockholm
StockholmModerna Museet is a state museum for modern and contemporary art in Stockholm. The museum is located on the island of Skeppsholmen. The Moderna Museet exhibits art from 1900 to contemporary, including Swedish and Scandinavian art (with around 3,700 works), international art including works by Pablo 16
National Museum of Decorative Arts
TrondheimThe Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum houses a wide range of collections of both older and newer crafts. Approximately 15% of these collections are displayed in the museum's premises located in Munkegata. This provides visitors with a unique opportunity to explore a diverse range of decorative arts. 17
Gothenburg Museum of Art
GothenburgThe Gothenburg Museum of Art is a leading museum of Nordic art in Gothenburg in Sweden. The museum holds a collection that includes art from the 15th century until today,with an emphasis on Nordic art. The collection of Nordic art from around 1900 is especially important. A key part of it is the lav 18
Hirschsprung Collection (Hirschsprungske Samling)
CopenhagenDen Hirschsprungske Samling, or Hirschsprung Collection is a museum in Copenhagen that is dedicated to visual art from Denmark, mostly from the 19th century. The Hirschsprung Collection is chronologically exhibited. Much space is reserved for artists from the Danish Golden Age, but later 19th-centur 19
Vendsyssel Museum of Art
HjørringVendsyssel Kunstmuseum, previously known as Hjørring Kunstmuseum, is a state-funded art museum located in Hjørring. The museum was established in 1963 and has since been a significant cultural institution in the region. 20
Haldenvassdragets Kanalmuseum
ØrjeHaldenvassdragets Kanalmuseum is a museum that provides insights into the cultural and natural history associated with the Halden watercourse. It is situated in Ørje, a part of the Marker municipality in Østfold county. This location is rich in both cultural and natural heritage, making it an interesting destination for tourists interested in history and nature. 21
Kunstbanken
HamarKunstbanken Hedmark Kunstsenter is a unique institution in Norway, owned by Bildende Kunstnere Hedmark, Norske Kunsthåndverkere Øst-Norge, and Hedmark county municipality. This collaboration between artist organizations and the county municipality is unique for a Norwegian art institution. The Kunstbanken is located in the old Norges Bank building in the center of Hamar, at Parkgata 21. 22
Nationalmuseum
StockholmThe Nationalmuseum is located in Stockholm and is the largest art museum in Sweden. The collection of the Nationalmuseum includes old paintings and sculptures, handicrafts and drawings from the 16th century to the 20th century. The collection contains work by great artists such as Rembrandt, Rubens, 23
Haugar art museum
TønsbergHaugar Art Museum, often simply referred to as Haugar, is an art museum located in Tønsberg in Vestfold and Telemark. The museum primarily exhibits Norwegian contemporary art. It offers a diverse and extensive annual exhibition program, featuring constantly changing exhibitions of both older art and contemporary art from both Norway and abroad. 24
Moderna Museet Malmö
MalmöModerna Museet Malmö is a museum of modern and contemporary art in Malmö that is housed in a building that once held an electricity plant. The museum exhibits contemporary art from important artists in the contemporary art scene and modern classics alternated with a selection from the collection of 25
Cube of Art Uppsala
UppsalaDigital art museum with focus on interactive art. Modern complementary artist that work with traditional art forms like aquarelle are combined with artist that works with interactive and digital art. Modern art meets technology in a new and fun way. 26
Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design
StockholmThe Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design (Svenskt arkitektur- och designcentrum, ArkDes) is a Swedish National Museum for architecture and design in Stockholm, located on the island of Skeppsholmen in the same complex as the modern art museum. The Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design exh 27
Bomuldsfabriken Kunsthall
ArendalBomuldsfabriken Kunsthall is an art gallery situated in Arendal, a city in Aust-Agder county. The gallery was inaugurated in 1994 and has since become a recognized institution in the art world. Its location in Arendal makes it easily accessible for tourists visiting the region. 28
Ingebrigt Vik museum
ØysteseIngebrigt Vik, born in the village of Øystese, is recognized as one of Norway's greatest sculptors from the early 20th century. His journey as an artist began in his father's factory as a wood carver, later training at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen and the Académie Colarossi in Paris. His works are celebrated and displayed in various locations, including the National Gallery of Norway and the Ingebrigt Vik Museum in his hometown. 29
Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
StockholmRoyal Swedish Academy of Arts (The Konstakademien) promotes the development of art in Sweden. The Art Academy holds a large collection of works of art from the past 270 years, mainly of its own members, as well as a famous collection of antique plaster and a comprehensive archive. 30
Holmsbu picture gallery
HolmsbuHolmsbu Billedgalleri, also known as Stiftelsen Holmsbu Billedgalleri Henrik Sørensens samlinger, is a foundation that owns an art museum in Holmsbu, located in the Asker municipality. The museum was originally owned by Hurum municipality and was established in 1963. It is home to a collection of paintings by Henrik Sørensen, Thorvald Erichsen, and Oluf Wold-Thorne, as well as a selection of Henrik Sørensen's collection of faience, antiques, and books. 31
Kalmar Art Museum
KalmarThis cube clad with wooden panels houses a prime museum of modern and contemporary art. Great collection set in an edge-cutting setting. 32
Youseum Stockholm
SolnaYouseum is Europe's biggest interactive social media museum all about you! It is the perfect place for those who love capturing moments and being in front of a camera. Here, you can take eye-catching photos for Instagram and create unforgettable content for TikTok, solo or with a group. Enjoy your v- 33
Örsta Gallery
KumlaEdge-cutting exhibition space is a perfect place to marvel at prime Scandinavian art.