Artists have been inspired by Cornwall for hundreds of years, particularly Falmouth, creating iconic works that show our county to the world. To this day, there is no shortage of incredible local art you can uncover during your stay in our holiday village in Cornwall.
One of Cornwall’s largest towns and renowned for its arts-focused university, Falmouth is a natural melting point where all manner of ideas come together. This is reflected in the sheer number of excellent art galleries you can explore, many showcasing local talent and artists expressing themselves in a myriad of ways.
Whether you’re looking for some Cornish inspiration or simply want a truly unique souvenir to take home after your Cornwall adventure, here are some of our favourite Falmouth art galleries for you to explore.
Beside the Wave
Location: Arwenack Street, TR11 3JA
Style: Fine Art
Purchasable Art: Yes
Website
Dating back to 1989, Beside the Wave is one of Cornwall’s most established and renowned art galleries. A champion of Cornish fine art, their wonderful collections capture not just the natural beauty of Cornwall but the multiplicity of lives that are lived in this wonderful corner of the world.
Beside the Wave has a little bit of everything, from expansive oil paintings created by renowned artists to beautiful local ceramics. They also sell limited edition local prints, a perfect small souvenir for art-loving friends and family.
As a renowned local institution, Beside the Wave has developed deep relationships with various artists in the Falmouth area – if you’re looking for art with a backstory, this is a great place to explore.
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Falmouth Art Gallery
Location: The Moor, TR11 2RT
Style: Collection
Purchasable Art: No
Website
Housed in the historic Municipal Building in the heart of Falmouth, this wonderful art gallery showcases various works from all eras of art. The collection itself dates back to the early 20th century and now includes over 2,000 artworks.
Falmouth Art Gallery aims to show a mixture of local art and international talent inspired by the area, including a range of works from early 20th-century surrealism and a collection of children’s book illustrations. The Gallery also contains the largest contemporary collection of automata in a public museum, an art form involving elaborate machines that appear to take on lives of their own.
Because Falmouth Art Gallery is quite small (it shares the Municipal Building with the town library), only parts of its collection are ever displayed at one time. However, with it being free to visit, it’s always worth popping in to see what you can discover!
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Sailor’s Jail
Location: Quay Street, TR11 3HH
Style: Contemporary
Purchasable Art: Yes
Website
If you’re looking for something less formal than a traditional art gallery, consider checking out Sailor’s Jail. Housed in a building that once kept unruly sailors, it is now a buzzing home for eclectic alternative artists from the local area.
Its basement gallery space contains a wonderful mix of established and recognisable Cornish artists alongside exciting works from Cornish students and alumni. If you can’t stretch to buy one of the original paintings, there’s still a wonderful store full of merch and unique prints so you can take a little bit of contemporary Cornish flair home with you.
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The Poly
Location: Church Street, TR11 3EG
Style: Exhibitions
Purchasable Art: Yes
Website
The Poly is a grand creative exhibition space celebrating the arts, history and science. The building is owned and run by the Cornwall Polytechnic Society, which was founded in the 19th century to promote the development of mechanical and artistic skills as Falmouth became an increasingly fruitful shipping hub.
Nowadays, The Poly is an important cultural hub in Falmouth, hosting everything from cinema and theatre to concerts and community workshops. The Poly also has exhibition spaces that regularly showcase local art, with various free events taking place throughout the year.
With gallery spaces, a community pottery studio and a charming cafe, this is a wonderful place to spend a few hours in the afternoon.
Cornwall Art Galleries
Location: Arwenack St, TR11 3JE
Style: Gifts
Purchasable Art: Yes
Website
A charming family-run business, Cornwall Art Galleries is a great place to pop into if you’re looking for unique Cornish art gifts. This quaint little shop specialises in offering local art at affordable prices, whether it’s lovely prints or other gifts such as soaps and candles made in Cornwall.
With lots of beautiful, affordable canvases that would look perfect at home, this is the perfect place to visit if you want to take a bit of Cornwall back with you.
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This list only really scratches the surface of the artistic delights you can discover when in Falmouth. When you’ve seen all you can, discover some of the best beaches around Falmouth to learn for yourself why so many artists want to call the town home.