The Barbican Art Gallery is situated on the third floor of the Barbican Centre on Silk Street. The Barbican was named after a fortification that previously occupied the site and was built to attract people back to London after the devastation of WWII. Work on the Centre began in 1962 and was not complete for almost twenty years. The Art Gallery itself is composed of two exhibition areas and due to its scale is often the preferred venue for temporary and touring exhibitions in virtually every artistic medium.

Recent contemporary exhibitions have included ‘Game On’ a look back over the history of video games and evolution and influence to one of the most popular sectors of the modern society. ‘Exodus’, a recent exhibit of more than 350 black and white photographs by acclaimed Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado was a recent success. The pictures won admiration for their accurate portrayal of the human cost of major political incidents.

The exhibitions held at the Barbican Art Gallery are among the best examples of modern and contemporary Art seen anywhere in Europe. The Barbican charges an admission fee based on any given set of collections. There is a gift shop and the facilities provide refreshments and seating areas.