Balai Seni Visual Negara

The Balai Seni Visual Negara is Malaysia’s official art gallery. It located along Jalan Tun Razak in the northern part of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The gallery was first established as Balai Seni Negara in 1958, by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia. It is also a statutory body and an agency under the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Tourism of Malaysia. The aim is to become the nation’s leading centre for the development of visual arts and a repository for the national collection. It is also to support the work of arts by Malaysian artists.

The Gallery has been relocated twice since it was establish. The current building which was opened in 1988 has a striking modern design with a blue glass pyramid roof. In 2011, The word visual is added to the name. Hence the name Balai Seni Visual Negara.

Visitors are not allowed to take photographs inside the gallery. However, they can still take pictures at the entrance lobby and the exterior area of the gallery. The gallery has five galleries of exhibits. The three story gallery houses a permanent collection of 4000 artworks like paintings, sculptures, batik art, pop art and many more by both renowned Malaysian and foreign artists.

On the ground floor, the National Portrait Gallery houses the temporary exhibitions to help nurture the local artists in the international arena. In the forecourt outside the gallery, there is an outdoor exhibition area where paintings can be viewed and purchased.

Workshops, seminars, organised art competitions and art classes are staged periodically at the creative center to encourage the appreciation of art among artists, students and the general public.

The gallery is accessible via public transportation. The nearest stations are Titiwangsa Monorail station and Titiwangsa LRT Station.

View official website.

Image by: Balai Seni Negara FB