National Gallery of Armenia

Introduction

The National Gallery of Armenia, located at 1 Arami Street in the heart of Yerevan, stands as the premier institution for visual arts in Armenia. Positioned on Republic Square, it offers an exceptional cultural destination for both locals and visitors. Rich in history and artistic value, the museum invites guests to explore centuries of Armenian and international art in a vibrant and thoughtfully curated setting.

About the Museum

Founded in 1921, the National Gallery of Armenia is the country’s largest and most significant art museum. It showcases an outstanding collection of approximately 40,000 works, of which around 56 exhibition halls are used to display about ten percent of the collection on rotation. Visitors can explore a diverse range of painting, sculpture, graphics, decorative and applied arts.

The Armenian department alone holds more than 7,000 works, spanning from ancient church murals and miniatures to portraits, landscapes, and modernist paintings by masters such as Martiros Saryan, Minas Avetisyan, Hakob Kojoyan, and Vardges Sureniants. The foreign art department features over 1,150 works by European, Russian, American, and Oriental artists including Donatello, Gustave Courbet, Peter Paul Rubens, Wassily Kandinsky, and Marc Chagall.

The museum also boasts around 1,200 sculptures by both Armenian and foreign artists, and a graphics collection of approximately 12,000 items—ranging from drawings and watercolors to engravings and woodcuts. The decorative and applied art department is particularly captivating: it features artifacts from ancient Egypt and Greece, Coptic textiles, Iranian ceramics, Japanese porcelain, and European porcelain dating from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Beyond its galleries, the museum complex includes restoration and conservation studios, a library and archive, a lecture hall, and facilities for screenings and educational programs. It hosts interactive and educational activities, including summer schools for children and guided tours in Armenian, English, French, Italian, and Russian.

Interesting Facts

• Vast Collection in Rotating Display: Home to about 40,000 items, the gallery rotates exhibits across 56 halls, showcasing a constantly refreshed selection.
• World-Leading Armenian Art: Recognized as the largest collection of Armenian fine art globally, with the second-largest collection of works by marine artist Hovhannes Aivazovsky.
• Education and Outreach: Since 2008, the gallery has offered interactive educational programs, and from 2015, it has hosted summer art schools for children aged six to fourteen.
• Multiple Venues: It operates twelve branches in Yerevan and regional areas, extending access to diverse communities.
• Global Exhibitions and Conservation: Beyond exhibiting permanently, the gallery lends works internationally, conducts restoration, scientific study, and publishes publications to preserve and promote Armenian art.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Contact Details

Phone: +3741 058 0812

Website: national-gallery.mus.am/en/

Facebook: facebook.com/NationalGalleryOfArmenia/

Conclusion

A visit to the National Gallery of Armenia is a journey through the soul of Armenian culture and artistic achievement. Its world-class collection—from ancient artifacts to modern masterpieces—complements the celebrated works of Martiros Saryan and Hovhannes Aivazovsky, and offers a rich dialogue with international art. With its commitment to education, conservation, and community outreach, the gallery welcomes art lovers of all ages to discover, learn, and be inspired. A trip here is not merely a museum visit—it is an immersion into the artistic heritage of Armenia and the broader world.

Whether you are drawn to historic iconography, avant-garde expressions, or decorative treasures, the National Gallery of Armenia promises a profound and memorable cultural experience in the heart of Yerevan.