A gallery on the right bank of the Neris
The National Gallery of Art stands on Konstitucijos Avenue, across the Neris from the historic centre. That location matters: the gallery speaks about modern Vilnius and twentieth- and twenty-first-century art not in a Baroque old-town setting, but in a contemporary part of the city.
NDG is a branch of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art. It functions as a multifunctional art and culture space, with a permanent display, temporary exhibitions, lectures, events, film screenings, and education.
The story of Lithuanian art in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
NDG's long-term exhibition presents Lithuanian painting, sculpture, graphic art, photography, objects, installations, and video art. It is one of the clearest ways to see in one place how Lithuanian art changed from modernism to contemporary forms.
According to the Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia, the gallery's holdings consist of modern and contemporary Lithuanian and diaspora art collections from the early twentieth to the early twenty-first century, with more than 46,000 exhibits in the collection in 2020. The display is worth reading not only chronologically. It lets visitors observe the relationship between art, statehood, the city, Soviet-period experience, independence, and international ideas.
From revolution museum to National Gallery of Art
The main building was constructed in 1980 to a design by architects Gediminas Baravykas and Vytautas Algirdas Vielius; it housed the Museum of the Revolution of the Lithuanian SSR. In 1991 the building and grounds were transferred to the Lithuanian Art Museum, and in 1993 the National Gallery of Art opened here with permanent exhibitions of Lithuanian folk art and works donated by sculptor Vytautas Kašuba.
In 1999 the building closed because of poor technical condition, and in 2004-2009 it was reconstructed and expanded to a design by architects Audrius Bučas, Darius Čaplinskas, and Gintautas Kuginys. After reconstruction the gallery became one of Lithuania's most modern art spaces, so during a visit it is worth noticing the building's scale, light, rhythm of halls, and relationship with the right-bank Neris cityscape.
Temporary exhibitions and library
NDG's temporary exhibitions often change the visitor experience, so before travelling it is worth checking what is being shown. The permanent display is the base, but temporary exhibitions often become the reason for the visit.
The gallery has an information centre-library and a cafe. It is a practical place for a longer stop, especially if you plan not only a quick look but a deeper encounter with artists, catalogues, or educational events.
Opening hours and tickets
Check the official LNDM website before travelling for NDG opening hours, closure days, and holiday changes.
NDG offers tickets for the permanent display and tickets for exhibitions together with the permanent display. Check the official LNDM tickets page for current prices, concession terms, and last-admission time.
