The 10 Coolest YouTube Art Channels

Image via Complex Original

Art video on the web has exploded over the past few years. Once just a bunch of PBS rips, we now have in-depth and original content spanning a number of genres and locations world wide. Can't make it that exhibition you're dying to view? No problem, there is a walk through on YouTube. There are plenty of artist profiles and even Thoughtz delivered by hilarious critics.

From contemporary artist interviews to international graffiti travels, check out The 10 Coolest Art YouTube Channels.

Guggenheim

Website: http://www.youtube.com/user/guggenheim

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum keeps proceedings light on its diverse YouTube channel. Most recent entries relate to the recent Maurizio Cattelan retrospective, and videos from the show range from an installation time lapse to short segments with filmmaker John Waters. If you dig a little deeper, you'll find clips with the band MGMT and more.

Art21

Website: http://www.youtube.com/user/art21org

Founded in 1997, Art21 is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting contemporary art. Their award winning series, "Art:21—Art in The Twenty-First Century" is the highlight of the YouTube channel, but don't miss "New York Close Up" a series that looks at up-and-coming artist's living and working in the Big Apple.

Hennessy Youngman

Website: http://www.youtube.com/user/HennesyYoungman

Art Thoughtz is a brilliant, often absurdist look at the art world through the eyes of performance artist Hennessy Youngman. Learn about relational aesthetics, making art, the sublime, and why Damien Hirst is a fraud in a language that will make laugh out loud. (And, most importantly, think).

MoCA

Website: http://www.youtube.com/user/MOCAlosangeles

MoCA's YouTube channel is about to get a major boost following a recently announced partnership with the site. However, until the proposed new series begin, there is still plenty to see. You'll have heard of Art In The Streets… and there is ample street art and graffiti here. Other highlights include artist guided tours (for example, Takashi Murakami) of previous exhibitions.

Tate

Website: http://www.youtube.com/user/tate

Representing a family of four museums, the Tate YouTube channel is home to the fantastic Tate:Shots series highlighting a range of artists and musicians. For example, Maurice Sendak holds forth about Where The Wild Things Are and more from his home. And, at other times, Moby stops by to talk about his favorite parts of the museum.

MoMA

Website: http://www.youtube.com/user/MoMAvideos

Not surprisingly, The Museum Of Modern Art has an awesome presence on YouTube. Catch dedicated videos related to current exhibitions, which go properly in-depth, and check out recaps of major performance events at the museum.

IMA ItsMyArt

Website: http://www.youtube.com/user/IMAItsMyArt

The Indianapolis Museum of art is a pioneer in digital media. The founding partner of artbabble.org (an art video site), the IMA creates informative content with an unmatched sense of humor. All videos are produced in house… which makes them even more awesome.

Montana Colors

Website: http://www.youtube.com/user/montanacolorstv

Regularly updated fresh content detailing the Montana Paints team. Travel the globe and watch writers in action.

SF MoMA

Website: http://www.youtube.com/user/sfmoma

SF MoMA's YouTube offerings are natural extensions of the institutions growth in social media. A recent video finds Barry McGee talking about making art outside. Informative and fun stuff.

Gagosian Gallery

Website: http://www.youtube.com/user/GagosianGallery

All famous artists. All the time. Gagosian is the biggest name in the global art trade, and the YouTube channel reflects the blockbuster nature of the whole enterprise pretty smoothly. "Walk" through shows at all eleven locations and catch Gagosian artists when they make public appearances. This is the channel you need to watch should you decide you want to rival Mr. Youngman as the art world's premier satirist.