Galerija Hest (art gallery), Ljubljana

Galerija Hest is a private gallery specialising in Slovenian fine art. Art collector Emil Šarkanj founded the first branch in Maribor in 1989 and opened the second in 1993. The name comes from the craft cooperative that helped construct and equip the original gallery. It also forms the Slovenian acronym Hitro, Ekonomično, Strokovno in Temeljito, meaning “Fast, Economical, Professional, and Thorough.”

The exhibition programme connects different periods of Slovenian art, presenting Impressionist and Expressionist works alongside modern and contemporary painting, sculpture, prints, photography, and mixed-media art. Solo and group exhibitions often move between the two branches, allowing artists to reach audiences in different parts of the country. Many works are available for purchase, while the gallery also supports private and corporate collectors.

In October 2002, the gallery launched Hest 35, a programme of short exhibitions for Slovenian artists under the age of 35. Its separate venue closed in 2011 following the effects of the 2008 economic recession, but support for younger artists continued within the main gallery. Galerija Hest has also been associated with the Gallery Owners and Antiquities Experts Association of Slovenia since its early years, contributing to professional standards in the private art market.