Lisbon’s 10 best new galleries

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Over the last five years, a flood of art galleries have opened in the Portuguese capital. The abundance of empty spaces and relatively cheap property prices, coupled with a growing population of wealthy foreigners, has brought more and more creatives to settle in Lisbon who might otherwise have chosen established art capitals, such as Berlin and London. Here, we bring you the best private galleries that have set up shop in the last couple of years.

Jeanne Bucher Jaeger: Gallery Jeanne Bucher Jaeger opened its doors in Paris back in 1925 and has since presented modern artists such as Picasso and Kandinsky. For its first international outpost it chose a space in Lisbon’s Chiado neighborhood, where it exhibits contemporary works by artists linked to the country, including Portugal resident Michael Biberstein. R. Serpa Pinto 1, 1200-442 Lisboa, Portugal

Ibirapi: Young French-born art dealer Maxime Porto opened Ibirapi gallery – exhibiting works connected to nature and ecology. ‘The artistic production in Portugal is interesting and fresh,’ he explains. The dealer says Marvila and Beato best represent the economic and cultural shift in the city. ‘They are neighborhoods that, besides guarding a local identity, have received investment by new artistic projects, festivals, breweries, restaurants or design shops.’ Calçada do Duque de Lafões 74, pta 2 1950-102, Beato, Lisboa

Primner: Primner Gallery inaugurated on the ground floor of a refurbished residential building in the traditional fado neighborhood of Alfama. Parts of the building date back to medieval times and have been left exposed. The gallery, started by a Brazilian couple, presents Brazilian artists with a special focus on the country’s Concrete and Neo-Concrete art movements. Pátio Afonso de Albuquerque 1D, 1100-070 Lisboa

Ainori: Ainori Gallery exhibits international contemporary artists that explore the aesthetics of irony and reason. Self-described as ‘daring, fresh and provocative’, the gallery is located in the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Alcantara. R. das Fontaínhas 70A, 1300-611 Lisboa

Galeria Francisco Fino: Young art dealer Francisco Fino has been making a name for himself since he chose Lisbon over New York to work as an art dealer in 2012. Last year, he opened a gallery in a former olive oil and wine warehouse in Marvila. R. Cap. Leitão 76, 1950-052 Lisboa

Hawaii-Lisbon: Located in a former garage between Lisbon and Cascais, this tiny gallery in Parede was started by a Swedish collector with Portuguese roots who favors quality over quantity. Rua de Armz 1, Doca Alcântara, 1350-353 Lisboa

Galeria Foco: French architect Benjamin Gonthier would rather call Galeria Foco an ‘artistic and interdisciplinary nucleus’ than an art gallery. The young art dealer fell in love with Lisbon four years ago and exhibits ceramics, product design, sculpture and paintings. Rua da Alegria, 34 R/C – 1250-007 Lisboa

Uma Lulik: Meaning ‘sacred space’ in East Timor, Uma Lulik gallery is dedicated to South American, African, Middle Eastern and South Asian art. Along with promoting work hailing from these regions, its founder, Miguel Leal Rios, wants to demystify contemporary art from emerging geographies. R. Centro Cultural 15 porta 2, 1700-111 Lisboa

Monitor: Opened in Lisbon last year on the ground floor of a crumbling XIX century building, Monitor is yet another international gallery outpost, this time from Rome. After having a branch in New York for two years, it has opened a permanent Lisbon space to work with Portuguese artists and tap into the emerging art scene. Rua Dom João V 17A, 1250-089 Lisboa

Balcony: A trio of Portuguese art collectors opened Balcony Contemporary Art Gallery last year to introduce young artists to the contemporary art world. Director Pedro Magalhães says the decision to open a space was ‘aligned with a moment of optimist which gallerists currently feel in the art market’. R. Cel. Bento Roma 12A, 1700-165 Lisboa