Experiencing arts gets a special twist in the arctic light conditions. In the Art Museum of Northern Norway, one gets the overview of the Norwegian paintings from 1800 onwards, with numerous motifs from the north. Tromsø Kunstforening, the city's gallery of contemporary art, displays temporary exhibits of Norwegian and international contemporary art, and is one of the leading in Norway. Private galleries like Krane Galleri and Galleri Brevik are also popular.

Contemporary, traditional, humorous and/or thought-provoking works of art are also spread around town, from the statues in the city centre via the modernist university campus to the recreated fish racks at the airport.