The National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus

Introduction

The National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus in Minsk is the country’s premier art institution, located at 20 Lenina Street in the capital. Situated in the heart of Minsk, the museum presents an extraordinary opportunity for visitors to explore Belarusian and international artistic heritage. Offering more than thirty thousand works in its holdings, it is the largest and most comprehensive art museum in Belarus.

About the Museum

The National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus was founded in 1939 and has since grown into a major cultural centre on the national and international stage. Its collection is organised into two principal parts: national art, and art monuments from around the world. The museum’s permanent exhibition includes notable works of Belarusian art from the nineteenth through the early twenty-first century. Highlights include still lifes by Ivan Khrutsky, portraits and landscapes by Belarusian masters such as Apolinariy Harawski, Sergei Zhukowski, and Vitold Byalynitsky‑Birulya, with masterpieces like Ferdynand Ruszczyc’s Near the Church among the collection.

The modern Belarusian art section, opened in 2006, displays approximately three hundred eighty works by nearly two hundred Belarusian artists. That collection includes painting, graphics, sculpture and decorative and applied art from the twentieth and early twenty‑first centuries, reflecting developments from avant‑garde to contemporary movements. In addition, the museum holds an exceptional collection of art from Eastern countries including China, Japan and other parts of Asia and the Caucasus. This collection encompasses painting, sculpture, miniature art, textiles, ceramics, lacquer ware, and carved objects, many acquired from major European museums and private collections after the 1950s.

The museum also houses several scientific departments, including sections dedicated to ancient Belarusian art, modern Belarusian art, Russian and foreign art, conservation workshops, and educational outreach. Visitors can enjoy public programmes such as guided tours, lectures, a library, children’s art studio, and even a café and museum shop offering postcards, ceramics and souvenirs.

Interesting Facts

• The collection contains more than thirty thousand works across twenty distinct collections, making it the largest art museum in Belarus.
• The permanent Belarusian art exhibition includes around twelve thousand works of painting, graphics, sculpture and applied arts by nearly two hundred artists of the twentieth and early twenty‑first centuries.
• The museum owns significant Eastern art holdings featuring decorative and applied works from China, Japan and other regions, including porcelain, lacquer, miniature painting and carved metal from the mid‑twentieth century onward.
• The department of ancient Belarusian art publishes monographs and catalogues on topics such as icon painting, early printed books and monumental sculpture from the twelfth to eighteenth centuries.
• The museum operates three important branches: the Vankovich House, focusing on nineteenth‑century culture and art; the Museum of Belarusian Folk Art in Raubichy; and the Museum of Vitold Byalynitsky‑Birulya in Mogilev.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Contact Details

Phone: +37517 397 0163

Website: artmuseum.by/

Facebook: facebook.com/NHMRB

Conclusion

The National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus in Minsk offers an inspiring and enriching experience for anyone interested in art. With its extensive collection of Belarusian nineteenth‑ to twenty‑first century art, rare treasures from Eastern traditions, and well‑curated exhibitions, the museum gives visitors a deep insight into the artistic soul of Belarus and its connections to the wider world. Enriched by educational programmes, rotating exhibitions, and welcoming public spaces—among them a children’s studio, lectures, and a museum shop—it is ideal for art lovers, families and cultural explorers alike. Whether you are seeing iconic national masterpieces, delightful folk art or refined Eastern porcelain, this museum is a vibrant destination that celebrates creativity across centuries and continents.