Milwaukee has come a long way from the blue-collared Midwest city it has been portrayed as in past television shows like ‘Happy Days’, ‘That 70’s show’ and ‘Laverne and Shirley.’ It is now a world-class city with an amazing arts and entertainment culture that is gaining recognition around the world. The Milwaukee Art Museum is not only one of the largest in the country, but also has one of the best collections of art as well. As the art world pays more attention to what the city has to offer, some amazing contemporary art galleries have been contributing to this growth. Here are some of Milwaukee’s top contemporary art galleries:

Dean Jensen Gallery

Named after Dean Jensen, a professor at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and an art critic for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the gallery often showcases a variety of different works from both local and international artists. Some of these artists include Gerard Sendrey, a French painter and drawer, and Kyle Fitspatrick, a local painter who incorporates organic materials into is art.

Claire Stigliani -The Lady Of Shalott
Claire Stigliani's "The Lady of Shalott" at one of Dean Jeansen Gallery Exhibition

David Barnett Gallery

Founded in 1966, the David Barnett Gallery is now the largest art gallery in the city and has become internationally known. You’ll find beautiful works of art from Europe, Africa, Oceania, Indonesia, and America. It has even hosted several one-man art shows by artistic greats like Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso.

"Cock Fight in Cuba" by John Steuart Curry at David Barnett Gallery

The Green Gallery

Located in downtown Milwaukee, the outside of the gallery doesn’t look like anything special, but once inside, The Green Galley features some of the finest contemporary art in Wisconsin. If you’re looking for something new and exciting, this gallery often features innovative, experimental exhibits featuring some of the world’s best known artists.

Installation view of “Jeanette Mundt: Beggars Thieves Faeries and Whores,” at The Green Gallery

Tory Folliard Gallery

This gallery focuses on local artist from Wisconsin and other Midwestern states. The gallery was situated in an old warehouse, but looks and feels like a museum with museum-quality art. The Tory Folliard Gallery regularly presents exhibits at art fairs in Palm Beach, Chicago and New York, helping local artist receive international attention.

The Salon Show
The Salon Show is the biggest exhibition of the year at the Tory Folliard Gallery.

Portrait Society Gallery

This gallery is dedicated to the unique genre of portraiture, which happens to be one of the most popular forms of photography in this day and age. The Portrait Society Gallery’s mission statement says, “[The portrait] is…a transactional exchange between two or more human beings. It is the only art form that depends on this kind of intimacy.”

Portrait Society Gallery
Portrait Society Gallery

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