Situated slap bang in the centre of Kiev, the Pinchuk Art Centre is by far the most interesting of all the art galleries in the city.
The gallery focuses on contemporary art and features ever changing exhibitions by world renowned artists. Exhibition areas span four floors so there’s plenty to see and something suitable for most tastes.
Previous exhibitions have showcased the works of controversial British artist Damien Hirst, and Indian-born sculptor Anish Kapoor. You can view details of current and future exhibitions on the official Pinchuk Art Centre website (in English).
Entrance to the gallery and all exhibitions is completely free. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from midday to 9 pm.
It’s really easy to reach too. Just head down to the southern end of Khreschatyk until you see Bessarabsky Market (behind the Billa supermarket). Walk past the market and the first street you’ll come to is Baseina. The Pinchuk Art Centre is halfway down, between the entrance to Arena and the Ferrari showroom.
The closest Metro stations are Ploshcha Lva Tolstoho (Blue Line), Teatralna (Red Line), and Palats Sportu (Green Line). You can walk to the gallery from any of these stations.
The quality of the works on display, central location and free entry means that the Pinchuk Art Centre is extremely popular. There’s often a queue to gain entry at weekends and on public holidays. It moves fairly quickly though and we’ve never had to wait more than 15 minutes to get in.
Once inside you’ll need to leave any large bags with security. We’ve been many times and never had a problem. Gallery owner Victor Pinchuk is one of the wealthiest men in the world and we’re sure he pays his staff well.
If you want something to eat or drink, head up to the Sky Art Café on the top floor. It boasts a striking all-white interior and panoramic views of the city.
I always call in here during my regular trips to Kiev. It is free and slap bang in the middle of the city. There is always an interesting exhibition on, usually by a respected and established international artist. The owner is one of the richest people in Ukraine so can attract the best contemporary artists.
There’s always something interesting here. Entrance is free and it’s right in the heart of the city. No planning is needed. Just pop in when you are passing and see what’s going on. There’s a very nice bar on the upper floor too.