The Skinny Guide to Edinburgh 2025: Art Galleries

This article is taken from the 2025 edition of The Skinny Guide to Edinburgh – a 116-page selection of some of our favourite things to do and places to go across the city. Pick up a copy at venues across Edinburgh this summer, or read it online via Issuu.

Fruitmarket

45 Market St

The closest gallery to Waverley station has been taken over by a new immersive installation by Mike Nelson titled Humpty Dumpty, subtitled 'a transient history of Mardin earthworks, low rise' (27 Jul-5 Oct).

City Art Centre

2 Market St

Bringing together over 80 drawings and paintings across two floors, John Bellany: A Life in Self Portraiture (until 28 Sep) offers a captivating insight into the work of one of the most significant Scottish painters of the modern era.

Stills

23 Cockburn St

Edinburgh’s original photography gallery and education space hosts Siân Davey – The Garden (1-30 Aug) as its Edinburgh Art Festival show.

Talbot Rice Gallery

University of Edinburgh, South Bridge

In the heart of the University’s Old College, Talbot Rice celebrate their 50th birthday with a solo exhibition by Egyptian artist Wael Shawky (28 Jun-28 Sep).

Dovecot

10 Infirmary St

The home of weaving in Scotland celebrates 60 years of everyone’s favourite Swedish furniture retailer with IKEA: Magical Patterns (18 Jul-17 Jan, £12.50).

Collective

City Observatory, 38 Calton Hill

Situated atop Calton Hill, Collective’s views are unparalleled in the city. This summer they’re hosting Argentinian artist Mercedes Azpilicueta’s Fire on the Mountain, Light on the Hill (until 7 Sep), an exploration of care and resistance.

Edinburgh Printmakers

Castle Mills, 1 Dundee St

In new exhibition Raindrops of Rani, Glasgow artist Aqsa Arif’s printmaking, textile, sculpture and film explores elements of Pakistani folklore (1 Aug-2 Nov).

Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop

21 Hawthornvale

The summer exhibition in this buzzing Newhaven workshop complex is Beachheads by Louise Gibson (7-30 Aug), an exhibition of monumental sculptures crafted from the detritus of late capitalism.

Linder at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for EAF and Mount Stuart. Photo: Charlotte Cullen.

Inverleith House

Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row

In the heart of the Royal Botanic Garden, Linder’s Danger Came Smiling (until 19 Oct) showcases 50 years of the feminist artist’s trailblazing work.

Bard

1 Customs Wharf

A magical Leith space celebrating Scottish design, in August they’ll host Orcadian artist Brandon Logan’s Little Low Heavens (7-24 Aug), an exhibition celebrating his minimal abstract work melding traditions of weaving and painting.

Embassy

10B Broughton St Ln

An artist-run space, check their Instagram (@embassygallery) for up-to-date exhibition info.

Sett Studios

127 Leith Walk

Run by artists, for artists, Sett is committed to creating a safe, accessible space, fostering allyship and uplifting marginalised voices. FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS (8-10 Aug) is the Leith gallery’s first supporters' show, inviting friends and associates in to run the place.

Agitate

20 Castle Ter

An artist-run photography collective, hosting workshops, exhibitions and in-conversation events. Visits by appointment.

Ingleby Gallery

33 Barony St

The former Glasite Meeting House showcases work by internationally renowned contemporary artists, including Katie Paterson and Peter Liversidge. Their summer show is the UK’s first major exhibition of Philadelphia-based painter Aubrey Levinthal, Mirror Matter (28 Jun-13 Sep).

Jupiter Artland

Bonnington House, Wilkieston

On the outskirts of the city, this magical sculpture park is home to a treasure trove of site-specific artworks by an array of international artists. Their summer show is Jonathan Baldock: WYRD (until 28 Sep) which transforms their ornate Ballroom Gallery into a zoo of textile and clay queer animals. They also host JUPITER RISING x EAF, a one-night-only experimental music and performance party in the woods (Sat 16 Aug).

Unlimited Corporation

77 Brunswick St

The former Ambulance Depot hosts a solo exhibition from Jake Chapman (21 Jun-26 Jul).