The city of Buffalo has a rich artistic history dating back over 100 years, but even many locals take for granted all of the amazing art the area holds and the gorgeous galleries showcasing it.

Now that fall is in full swing and we’re all spending more time indoors, we thought it would be interesting to highlight all of the incredible art galleries the Buffalo-Niagara area has to offer.

These galleries are a great excuse to get out of the house on a cold afternoon and take in some culture.

The Best Local Art Galleries

Elmwood/Downtown/Allentown

Albright-Knox Art Gallery – Founded in 1862 as the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery is the sixth oldest public art institution in the United States and is considered one of the best in the area. According to the gallery’s website, former President Millard Fillmore was among the gallery’s incorporators. Today, the Albright-Knox is considered a major showplace for modern art and contemporary art, drawing exhibitions and artists from around the world.

The new $165 million Elmwood gallery is slated to open in Spring 2022, so mark your calendar for what should be a fantastic upgrade. The expansion will add 30,000 square feet to the gallery, which will more than double the number of works the museum can display at one time, and will include a state-of-the-art space for special exhibitions.

Burchfield Penney Art Center – While the Albright-Knox gets all of the hype, the nearby Burchfield Penney Art Center is nothing to sneeze at. Located adjacent to Buffalo State’s campus, the 84,000 square foot gallery is the only museum dedicated completely to the art and artists of Buffalo and Western New York. It was founded in 1966 as the Charles E. Burchfield Center in honor of American watercolorist Charles E. Burchfield and contains the world’s largest collection of Burchfield’s work. The gallery’s permanent collection includes works from the late 1800s through today.

The Burchfield Penney also features more than 30 rotating exhibitions annually, so each visit is a unique opportunity to explore new works. It is currently open Thursday through Sunday, so you can visit multiple times per month and still see new works of art. And if you’ve never attended Second Fridays, be sure to do so. On the second Friday of every month, the gallery hosts happy hours, performances, concerts, screenings, and other events.

CEPA Gallery – Looking for something a little different? Check out the CEPA Gallery, one of Buffalo’s best kept secrets. The CEPA Gallery is a contemporary photography and visual arts center located in the historic Market Arcade Complex in downtown Buffalo. The center features three galleries of rotating exhibits and events, multimedia public art installations, arts education programs, and an open-access darkroom and digital photo lab. It was founded in 1974 by graduates of the University at Buffalo and is now one of the oldest and largest not-for-profit photography-based arts centers in the United States. You won’t find a center like this in many cities–and it’s completely free and open to the public. If you visit Wednesday through Friday, you’ll need to make an appointment, but you’re free to show up anytime they’re open on Saturday.

UB Anderson Gallery – The University at Buffalo’s Anderson Gallery, located on Martha Jackson Place near UB’s South campus, is home to the university’s extensive permanent art collection. Art collector and gallerist David K. Anderson converted the building, a former elementary school, to a high-end art exhibition space before opening the gallery in 1991. He gifted the gallery to the University at Buffalo in 2000, along with over 1,200 pieces of art. The first floor exhibition space includes four galleries that span over 4,400 square feet, and the second floor includes an exhibition hallway and a glass-walled sculpture gallery across 4,200 square feet. The gallery has hosted over 75 exhibitions in the past five years, showcasing acclaimed and emerging artists from around the world. The gallery is temporarily closed for installation but will reopen November 6, so be sure to add it to your list this fall.

UB Art Gallery at the Center for the Arts – The University at Buffalo’s second art gallery is located in the Center for the Arts on UB’s North Campus. It was founded in 1994 and features 5,000 square feet of exhibition space in its first floor, second floor and Lightwell Galleries. The center features contemporary art exhibitions as well as work from the university’s collection of over 4,000 items. The gallery also regularly features the work of UB students and serves as a resource for the university community. It’s also free and open to the public, so take a stop by if you’re in the area.

Allentown First Friday Gallery Walk – Buffalo’s Allentown district is known for being its artsy neighborhood, and the Allentown Gallery Walk is the perfect way to immerse yourself in everything the area has to offer. The Allentown Gallery Walk is a free, self-guided tour of galleries, shops and restaurants. On the first Friday of every month, crowds gather in Allentown to take part in the tour, known as “First Fridays.” The walk features dozens of art venues of all sizes in and around Allentown. Galleries, restaurants, shops and other local businesses all come together to feature some of the best art local creators have to offer. There will often be musicians playing as well as other artists who come to celebrate and speak about their work.

Allen Street East of Delaware Ave:

• Pine Apple Company – 65 Allen Street
• Buffalo Barkery – 47 Allen Street
• The Standard – 76 Allen Street
• Ms Eye Candy – 85 Allen Street
• Allen Street Dress Shop – 89 Allen Street
• Allentown Vibes – 93 Allen Street
• Trend Up – 95 Allen Street
• El Museo Gallery – 91 Allen Street
• French Girl Skin Spa

Main Street:

• K- Art – 808 Main Street
• BOX Gallery – 667 Main Street

Delaware Avenue:

• The Hiraeth House – 501 Delaware Avenue
• barre(tend) – 503 Delaware Avenue

Allen Street West of Delaware:

• The Intersection Café – 100 Elmwood Avenue
• Allentown Café – 220 Allen Street
• Rivalry Projects – 106 College Street
• PAUSA Arthouse – 19 Wadsworth Street

Even if you can’t join in on the Friday tour, you can stop in some of these unique venues to take in the local art scene on other days of the week.

North Tonawanda / Niagara

Carnegie Art Center – Venturing out of the city to North Tonawanda will bring you to a phenomenal art venue in Carnegie Art Center. The center was originally built in 1903 as a Library, which Andrew Carnegie gifted to the city of North Tonawanda. The building opened in 1904 and served as a public library for over 70 years. However, since 1975, it has functioned as the Carnegie Art Center, providing artistic programming for the North Tonawanda community and beyond. In addition to rotating art exhibits, the Center features a variety of cultural and educational programs, including dance classes, glass-blowing classes and even an outdoor music series during warmer months. The building includes many of the original architectural features from 1904 and is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Sites. Check it out Wednesday-Saturdays or register for one of their special events.

Which art galleries will you be visiting this fall? Let us know in the comments below.