10 Interesting Galleries in Brooklyn You Can Visit for Free

New York is the center of world art. Brooklyn hides real gems. Secret nyc tells about interesting galleries in the area that can be visited for free.

The Invisible Dog Art Center

• Where: 51 Bergen St, Brooklyn.

The Invisible Dog Art Center is not just an exhibition space, but also a cultural arts center. The historic three-story former factory building can be found in Boerum Hill. It dates back to 1863, and the center was founded in 2009 by Lucien Zayan.

Art exhibitions are held on its first floor. Exhibitions, performances and public events, while other floors have been converted into artists' studios and workshops.

Unfortunately, they will close on March 31st, so be sure to make time to visit.

The program of events can be viewed here.

Tanya Weddemire Gallery

• Where: 254 36th St Suite C257, Brooklyn (Industry City).

Tanya Weddemire is originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica. Now with her own gallery in Industry City, she brings vibrant art to Brooklyn.

The gallery aims to showcase the works of emerging artists and also to deepen the value of art by exploring the perspective of life through exhibitions. At any given time, you can see a variety of art pieces here, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, as well as fashion products and furniture. Not to mention, it is one of the best restaurants and shops in Industry City.

The program of events can be viewed here.

Transmitter

• Where: 1329 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn.

Transmitter is a self-described “collaborative curatorial initiative” in Bushwick, founded in 2014. Featuring some of the coolest art in the area, it will captivate you with exhibitions you’ve never seen before.

The program of events can be viewed here.

AIR Gallery

• Where: 155 Plymouth St, Brooklyn.

AIR at DUMBO is the oldest alternative space for women artists in the United States! Each exhibition (about three to four solo and one to two group shows per year) showcases a carefully curated selection of work by women and non-binary artists!
The gallery's mission is to support community engagement, intergenerational dialogue, and further feminist exploration through its exhibitions and projects.

The program of events can be viewed here.

Pioneer Works

• Where: 159 Pioneer St, Brooklyn.

This historic former steel mill building serves as a multidisciplinary space for art, science, technology and education in the heart of Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Pioneer Works aims to attract emerging and under-recognized artists to display their work. The gallery expands the space into a science studio, tech lab or virtual environment lab, and recording studio and is truly dedicated to art.

On the subject: How to visit world art exhibitions in New York for free or for pennies

It welcomes around 50 artists a year, encouraging them to use the vast space as a platform for their creativity.

The program of events can be viewed here.

Smack Mellon

• Where: 92 Plymouth St, Brooklyn.

This space was once a coal-fired boiler room. It offers an industrial aesthetic for the Brooklyn gallery scene. Smack Mellon is focused on emerging, underrated, mid-career female artists. The gallery hosts three to four solo shows a year.

Expect to see a diverse range of art by female-identifying artists, from sculptures and installations to photography.

The program of events can be viewed here.

Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC)

• Where: 481 Van Brunt St, Door 7A, Brooklyn.

The heroic story of the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition gallery began in 1976, when a group of 16 artists founded the space after hosting various temporary galleries around the city.

It serves as a platform for emerging and mid-career artists who have no opportunity to showcase their work elsewhere (disabled, students, low-income), and hosts about 15 exhibitions a year.

The gallery has a strong impact on the community. It is a non-profit arts organization run by 200 volunteer artists. It hosts various workshops to encourage art.

The program of events can be viewed here.

Richard Beavers Gallery

• Where: 408 Marcus Garvey Blvd, Brooklyn.

The space has always challenged the notion that fine art galleries belong in traditional arts districts. Since 2017, it has been a hotbed for showcasing contemporary art from emerging and established Black artists in Bed-Stuy.

The gallery hosts three to four solo exhibitions a year. It selects 14 different artists whose art explores social and political issues relevant to the black community. The gallery hosts art talks, comedy nights, and workshops throughout the year.

The program of events can be viewed here.

FiveMyles

• Where: 558 St Johns Place, Brooklyn.

This nonprofit gallery in Crown Heights has been around since 1999 and remains a vital part of the neighborhood's art scene. FiveMyles Gallery welcomes exhibitions inspired by art rooted in non-Western cultures.

Over the years, it has showcased photography and video from East Africa, as well as contemporary indigenous art from the Caribbean, and everything in between. FiveMyles Gallery successfully engages the local community through art, hosting a variety of performances, exhibitions, and community celebrations.

The program of events can be viewed here.

Thomas VanDyke Gallery

• Where: 434 39th St, Brooklyn.

Thomas VanDyke Gallery opened in 2022. It is the brainchild of Thomas VanDyke. He has played an impressive role at both David Zwirner and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His Sunset Park gallery focuses on contemporary art. It features not only local New York artists but also artists from around the world.

The gallery organizes live performances, workshops, open-air exhibitions in the Sculpture Garden and other events.

The program of events can be viewed here.