Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York

Abstract art, characterised by the use of colours, shapes, and forms to create compositions independent of visual references, has a magnetic allure that continues to captivate art lovers around the world. For those interested in exploring the most extensive and diverse collections of abstract art, here are some of the world's best art galleries across Europe, the USA, and beyond.

Tate Modern, London, United Kingdom

Main Artists Featured:

• Mark Rothko

• Jackson Pollock

• Gerhard Richter

• Highlight Work: Seagram Murals by Mark Rothko

Tate Modern, housed in a former power station on the banks of the River Thames, is one of the most important contemporary art museums globally. Its collection includes significant works of abstract art, notably Mark Rothko's Seagram Murals. These paintings, commissioned for a New York restaurant, exemplify Rothko's deep, immersive colour fields and emotional intensity.

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid, Spain

Main Artists Featured:

• Pablo Picasso

• Joan Miró

• Antoni Tàpies

• Highlight Work: Guernica by Pablo Picasso

While Picasso's Guernica is not strictly abstract, its fragmented forms and emotive power have a significant place in the evolution of abstract art. The Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid showcases this monumental work, alongside pieces by Joan Miró, whose whimsical and colourful abstractions are foundational to 20th-century art.

Centre Pompidou, Paris, France

Main Artists Featured:

• Wassily Kandinsky

• Piet Mondrian

• Sonia Delaunay

• Highlight Work: Composition VIII by Wassily Kandinsky

Centre Pompidou, with its unique architectural design, is a beacon of modern and contemporary art. Wassily Kandinsky's Composition VIII is a standout piece, illustrating his belief in the spiritual power of art through dynamic geometric shapes and vibrant colours.

Albertina, Vienna, Austria

Main Artists Featured:

• Paul Klee

• Anselm Kiefer

• Georg Baselitz

• Highlight Work: Ad Parnassum by Paul Klee

The Albertina in Vienna holds an impressive collection of abstract art. Paul Klee's Ad Parnassum, a masterpiece of pointillist technique and vibrant colour, is a key highlight, showcasing Klee's unique approach to abstraction and symbolism.

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, USA

Main Artists Featured:

• Jackson Pollock

• Barnett Newman

• Helen Frankenthaler

• Highlight Work: One: Number 31, 1950 by Jackson Pollock

MoMA in New York is a pivotal institution for modern and contemporary art. Jackson Pollock's One: Number 31, 1950 is a prime example of his revolutionary drip painting technique, where the canvas becomes a field of frenetic energy and movement.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, USA

Main Artists Featured:

• Vasily Kandinsky

• Robert Motherwell

• Willem de Kooning

• Highlight Work: Composition 8 by Vasily Kandinsky

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Guggenheim Museum (pictured above) is as iconic as the art it houses. Kandinsky's Composition 8, with its geometric shapes and bold colours, epitomises his quest for a universal language of abstract art.

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australia

Main Artists Featured:

• Emily Kame Kngwarreye

• Rosalie Gascoigne

• Ian Fairweather

• Highlight Work: Big Yam Dreaming by Emily Kame Kngwarreye

The National Gallery of Australia offers a unique perspective on abstract art with a strong representation of Indigenous artists. Emily Kame Kngwarreye's Big Yam Dreaming is a stunning example of her abstract expression of traditional Aboriginal themes.

Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Main Artists Featured:

• Kazimir Malevich

• Piet Mondrian

• Theo van Doesburg

• Highlight Work: Composition with Red, Blue and Yellow by Piet Mondrian

The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam is renowned for its modern and contemporary art collections. Mondrian's Composition with Red, Blue and Yellow represents his iconic style of abstract art, emphasising harmony and balance through primary colours and geometric forms.

National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, India

Main Artists Featured:

• V. S. Gaitonde

• Tyeb Mehta

• Nasreen Mohamedi

• Highlight Work: Painting No. 4 by V. S. Gaitonde

The National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi showcases the works of India's leading abstract artists. V. S. Gaitonde's Painting No. 4 is celebrated for its meditative quality and intricate layering, making it a cornerstone of Indian abstract art.

The Broad, Los Angeles, USA

Main Artists Featured:

• Mark Bradford

• Cy Twombly

• Ellsworth Kelly

• Highlight Work: In C by Ellsworth Kelly

The Broad in Los Angeles, with its striking contemporary architecture, features an impressive collection of abstract works. Ellsworth Kelly's In C is a masterful example of his minimalist approach, focusing on pure form and colour.

These galleries not only offer a feast for the eyes but also a deep dive into the history and evolution of abstract art. Whether you are a seasoned art enthusiast or a curious novice, visiting these amazing institutions will provide a rich and diverse experience of the abstract art world.

Anthony Bell - Abstract Artist

From my Studio in Almeria, Spain

Email: [email protected] 

"For me, every painting I do is a miracle … It is my sincere belief in life, truth, God, whatever it is, that prompts me to paint."

V. S. Gaitonde