Art Galleries in Cornwall
10 January 2025
Ever wondered why there are so many artists in Cornwall? Some say it is down to the light, others the dramatic scenery, whatever the reason we do have a vibrant artistic community ready to inspire this New Year. These wintery months are the perfect time to get out and explore what Cornwall has to offer. The roaring seas and vibrant moors, sometimes dusted with snow, make for spectacular locations that have inspired many of the greats.
Our county has a wonderful array of large and small galleries and studios to visit, these are just a few we love…
The Tate St Ives – The sparkling white building perches elegantly overlooking Porthmeor beach, this award winning space is somewhere I always like to visit when in St Ives. The collection of modern art is varied and a visual treat, it’s always worth seeing what exhibits are being displayed.
Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, also in St Ives, is a fantastic place where you can explore the renowned artist’s studio-turned-museum. It just has a lovely feel, seeing her tools all laid out and her pieces exactly where she left them, imbedded in the natural landscape of her own pretty town garden.
If sculpture is your thing then a trip down to Penzance is a must, here you will find the Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens. I mean it has the best view, over looking St Michael’s Mount, and the sprawling sub-tropical garden is full of some really interesting sculptures by internationally acclaimed artists. Though it is worth noting the gardens reopen fully on Feb 15th 2025 but you can still visit the kitchen, nursery and shop, to whet your appetite!
The Jackson Foundation is a carbon-negative greenly run art space set up by artist Kurt Jackson along with his wife Caroline. The multi-disciplinary cavernous space often houses exhibitions that highlight climate concerns and draw attention to the natural world through painting, poetry, sculpture, installation and film.
Newlyn Art Gallery has been showcasing modern artworks for 125 years, a great window into Cornish life as captured by artists, and definitely worth a visit of you are out West on one of our West Cornwall Tours.
Falmouth boasts two great spaces to connect with your creativity, Falmouth Art Gallery which has some great permanent exhibits as well as guest exhibitions, and The Polly. The Polly first opened its doors in 1833, smack bang in the middle of town here you can watch films, catch lectures and tour exhibits, dedicated to celebrating Cornish art and history, always worth a peak.
If you are looking for exhibits of current emerging artists then a great place to head would be the north coast and Circle Contemporary, just outside of Wadebridge. Here local favourites gain loyal followers with displays reflecting the beauty of our natural environment. Right on the Atlantic Highway, a stop off here never disappoints.
Whatever your interest we can tailor our guided tours to show you the best in the area you choose. Check out our Tour page to see where you would like to explore.
