Finding a well-known art gallery or famous museum is easy to do, but have you ever longed to discover art in an unexpected place? The following are some of the best, unexpected spots around the planet to look for great pieces of art.
Art in a London Crypt
The crypt that lies below St Pancras Church in London was constructed in the 1820s and served as a burial space for three decades. In 2002, it was turned into a strongly atmospheric art gallery where contemporary exhibitions and special events are held.
Their official website offers a 3D virtual tour of the gallery, as well as details of a movie shot there. Its central location near Euston Station has turned it into a popular, highly convenient spot for promoting artists and for carrying out live performances.
As a Grade I listed building, no structural changes can be made and no holes can be drilled into the walls, either. However, there are plenty of existing holes that are used to hang paintings and create a unique gallery experience. As this historic crypt doesn’t have any type of heating, you are advised to take warm clothing with you.
Medieval French Cloisters in New York City
You could spend years wandering around the Big Apple looking at
art like Medusa with the Head of Perseus in Collect Pond Park without realizing that it has a building based on a 13th-century French church. You may also not realise that a massive collection of diverse types of art can be found within. The Cloisters is based in Fort Tryon Park in Manhattan and its treasures have been on show here since the late 1930s.
John D. Rockefeller Jr. and J. P. Morgan were key figures in bringing thousands of valuable pieces of art across from Europe and into this elegant, evocative setting in New York. Many structural elements of the building were also brought from Europe, adding to the medieval feel, with lush gardens making it feel peaceful and close to nature.
The themed galleries include rooms based on styles such as Spanish, Gothic, and Romanesque. Overall, some 5,000 pieces of artwork are held here, covering a wide variety of periods from Byzantine to early Renaissance in particular. Sculptures, illuminated manuscripts, tapestries, and panel paintings are all on display.
A Casino on the Las Vegas Strip
We tend to associate Las Vegas with bright lights and spinning roulette tables. Yet, the Bellagio hotel and casino complex also offers a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Strip to enjoy some time reflecting on lovely pieces of art.
This Las Vegas resort has a highly regarded Gallery of Fine Art connected to it. It was opened at the end of the 20th century and signified a shift towards offering visitors an immersive cultural experience. The gallery has hosted numerous temporary exhibitions featuring the likes of American Modernism and Landscapes from Monet to Hockney. The resort also has lots of works of art dotted around the public areas of the hotel and casino.
The world of art and artists has also found its way into casino games too, with Leonardo da Vinci and the Mona Lisa among the most popular themes. The VegasSlotsOnline site has been created by a group of online casino experts who confirm that the current slots that can be played for free include
Double da Vinci Diamonds. They also list Vivaldi’s Seasons and Versailles Gold, adding an extra dash of culture to the genre.
Modern Art in a Bunker in Berlin
Berlin’s reputation as one of the world’s most artistic, vibrant cities is well-deserved. The city is packed with street art and cutting-edge venues. Yet, you probably won’t expect to come across exciting art exhibitions in a somber-looking Second World War-era bunker while you are in the German capital.
The Sammlung Boros Collection is often referred to simply as the Boros Bunker. It is located in a bunker that was built in 1942 and was used as a bomb shelter in the final years of WWII. Since then, it has seen various uses such as a prison, a banana storage room, and a club. The last use was chosen by Christian Boros who was responsible for converting it into a top-end art gallery in 2008.
The gallery currently contains around 500 works, with artists such as Olafur Eliasson, Damian Hirst, Wolfgang Tillmans, and Anselm Reyle all represented. Visitors need to see it as part of a guided tour, which can be booked on their website.
Wherever you go in the world, it is worth looking out for unusual art spaces like these, where the unexpected nature of the surroundings makes it an unforgettable experience.
