Gallery of Modern Art Reviews Summary

Category: Art gallery

Address: 111 Queen St, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow G1 3AH, United Kingdom

Phone: +441412873050

Rating: 4.0
based on 161 reviews.

Exhibition Quality

Pros:

  • "Went to the Bansky exhibition which was brilliant. Very well displayed and the staff couldn't have been more helpful."
  • "Banksy exhibition was absolutely brilliant. Well spaced out exhibits with all clearly explained and I didn't feel rushed to move round."
  • "There are four or five small changing exhibitions each of a single artist's work, ranging from abstract sculpture to documentary photography."
  • "There's 4 galleries of rotating exhibitions, well curated showing a good range of modern installations."
  • "Not what I expected but better. Rather than a box-ticking exercise (one Warhol, one Picasso, etc) this is a small but intelligently curated collection of contemporary art from Scotland and beyond."
  • "Been before and always enjoyed it. Tonight we attended for Banksy's 'Cut and Run' exhibition. The brilliant work of a genius."
  • "They have a big main changing exhibition and then a few more permanent ones upstairs which inventively show their interesting collection."

Cons:

  • "The exhibitions were disappointing - 1 had nothing in it, another closed, what I saw didn't appear great."
  • "The way it is set out and curated is pretty uninspiring and doesn't really engage you as a visitor."
  • "I know they have to deal with the building limitations and room sizes, but felt this was poorly curated."
  • "Themed exhibitions lack depth and obviously the curator is slacking off."
  • "Free entry and you get exactly what you pay for, nothing. What a waste of an afternoon, the exhibitors cannot even write in English!"
  • "This gallery has really went down hill and is a disgrace to the beautiful old mansion house that one housed one of Scotland's premier art collections."
  • "Most of the exhibitions are free though occasionally the gallery will stage a large exhibition with an entrance fee such as the 2023 Banksy retrospective."

Staff and Service

Pros:

  • "Staff charming and helpful throughout our time there."
  • "Staff were very friendly and knowledgeable as well."
  • "Welcoming staff on the entrance."
  • "The staff are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the art."
  • "Staff are very friendly."
  • "Staff was really nice though, and I witnessed them being very kind to a homeless gentleman who had wandered in to try and bathe in the downstairs restroom."
  • "Staff were polite, informative, and friendly."

Cons:

  • "Rude staff in the library and low quality museum."
  • "Staff seemed a little bored and none were engaging with visitors."
  • "However it was extremely annoying that the staff shut up shop minutes before closing time at 5pm, even toilets, ushering everyone out minutes before 5pm."

Facilities and Accessibility

Pros:

  • "Firstly the building is fantastic - stunning in fact- also free admission."
  • "Inside the gift shop there are some lovely postcards with the Duke on it!"
  • "There is a bookstore/library and small cafe in the basement."
  • "Facilities include: free guided tours, gallery shop; café; male and female toilets; wheelchair access; nearby pay and display parking as well as being only a short walking distance from various subway and train stations."
  • "The Gallery of Modern Art is easily accessible as it is situated in Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow, which has many transport routes."
  • "When I entered the art museum during my second visit, there was an elevator for those who needed it, as well as restrooms, gift shops, and libraries."
  • "There is a fantastic gift shop that sells all sorts of artistic things and Gorgeous jewelry."

Cons:

  • "The building is visually pleasing although inside there are many blank wall spaces and I feel that more could be done to maximize the amount of art on display in such a big space."
  • "The accessible toilet which is in the basement of the building it's not very big so getting larger wheelchairs in Might be a bit hard but the staff is more than willing to help."
  • "Iconic place and effort has been made but the building being tall and thin is an award shape with lots of stairs and small rooms."
  • "A couple levels were closed due to a staffing shortage and the shop was closed as it recently moved locations in the building."
  • "The only art work worth making a journey for is the Adrian Wiszniewski cafe - but that is now a studio space with no public access."

Atmosphere and Experience

Pros:

  • "The atmosphere is more lively than a regular art gallery, possibly because the audience is younger and the art which is on display is meant to inspire creativity and challenge traditional views of 'art'."
  • "Modern art isn't about perfectly painted portraits like those in traditional galleries but more about idea and concept of art and this is reflected in the atmosphere."
  • "Free entry, and you're passing by anyway for the traffic-cone-hatted statue outside, so why not pop in?"
  • "Overall my visit was an enjoyable experience and I would recommend the Gallery of Modern Art to creative people who want to broaden their knowledge and understanding of art."
  • "This is a place where I can stay all day long and won't be bored. It gives me such sense of being."
  • "It's certainly a good place to visit if you have a short amount of spare time to do something in Glasgow."
  • "Visited yesterday for the Banksy exhibition. It was my first time at the GOMA and I can't rate it highly enough. The people working there were just lovely."

Cons:

  • "Very empty, could be filled with so much more exciting things."
  • "The building is the most impressive thing on show. Art is so loosely defined these days, but really some of the stuff in here is Emperor's New clothes."
  • "Though this is a free museum, it's not worth a visit if you're pressed for time."
  • "Zero stars, an embarrassment to Glasgow. No local artists work. Not much work of any description."
  • "Horrid! Don't waste your time here. You'll find nicer looking things in a local dump!"

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