Tainan Art Gallery Building 1

We visited the original building of the Tainan Art Museum during the Lunar New Year period and thoroughly enjoyed it. The architecture alone is worth seeing — elegant, well-proportioned and full of quiet character. The restored historic façade gives it real presence, and inside the galleries feel calm, airy and thoughtfully laid out. The collection itself is compact but engaging, with a strong focus on modern Taiwanese art. During our visit there was a noticeable emphasis on Chinese New Year themes, particularly celebrating the upcoming Year of the Horse (2026). Rather than feeling decorative, the festive elements were integrated into contemporary works in a way that felt respectful and creative. It’s not a vast museum, but that’s part of the appeal — you can take your time and properly absorb what’s on display without feeling rushed. A very worthwhile cultural stop in Tainan, especially when paired with the nearby temples and historic sites. Thoughtful, well curated and full of personality.

In my opinion, an inferior gallery compared to its sister, the second building. Repurposed from a former police station, the building’s architecture is definitely unorthodox for an art gallery. Having said that, there is not much room for exhibits, forcing the bigger pieces to be housed in what seems to be a later-built extension area. If I am being truly honest, this building is skippable if you are low on time. Otherwise, since the ticket for each of the galleries is also usable for the other, it might be fun for a change of scenery. 7/10 decent enough

This museum is a beautiful blend of history and classic architecture. It used to be a police station during the Japanese colonial era! The building has elegant details that make it a great spot for photos. Inside, there are exhibits and special displays that dive into local culture and history. What’s even better is that with just one ticket, you can visit both Tainan Art Gallery 1 and 2! The atmosphere is calm and a bit nostalgic, perfect for taking your time to soak in the experience 💗

I really liked this art gallery. Your ticket is valid for both buildings, but I preferred this one to building 2. Im not sure if they are all temporary exhibitions or if there are permanent galleries - I’d recommend checking what’s on before your visit.

The city’s art centre hidden in an interesting historical building Well managed and scheduled with many local or new comer artists, that fully offers a great vibe … the big banyan tree living in the atrium is totally out of this world Therefore next trip to Tainan, remember to drop in, no regrets

Great architecture building…. Really love this old building. Every details revealed how much effort they have put in when the building was designed and built! Enjoy walking in the corridor and stair well… just stunning.

Some nice exhibitions currently, especially memory of a landscape, which although small had some exquisite otherworldly marble pieces. Ticket also includes the new art building, however currently not much is displayed there.

They only have a small exhibition, I’d recommend to visit the building 2