North Texas is home to a number of stellar museums and cultural centers (see our list of Best Museums in Dallas and Best Museums in Fort Worth) but the DFW Metroplex also boasts of a number of off-the-radar spaces for art lovers and collectors alike. From an intimate sculpture garden to a former firehouse-turned-art studio, we round up the galleries that are helping boost North Texas’ art scene.

Valley House Gallery and Sculpture Garden

6616 Spring Valley Road
Dallas, TX
(972) 238-2441

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The oldest gallery in town, the Valley House Gallery offers a unique art experience–and an oasis in the suburbs of North Dallas. Specializing in contemporary, American, European and Early Texas art, visitors come here to enjoy pieces housed in its Modernist-style gallery, and those displayed its 4.5-acre sculpture garden. The garden, with its walk paths, flowerbeds, and the half-moon bridge over the lake, is a perfect place to spend a quiet, summer afternoon. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm.

Upcoming exhibition: From June 11 to July 9, 2011, the Valley House gallery is hosting Jim Stoker: 50 Year Retrospective. Admission is free.

Barry Whistler Gallery

2909 Canton St.
Dallas, TX
(214) 939-0242

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If you’re into contemporary art–sculptures, paintings and photography–from local Texas artists, the Barry Whistler Gallery, located in downtown Dallas, is a must-visit. Founded in 1986 by a former curator at the Dallas Museum of Art, the gallery represents artists such as Scott Barber, Kelli Connell, Linnea Glatt, Toni LaSelle, Kirsten Macy, Michael Miller, Betsy Odom, John Pomara, and Andrea Rosenberg.

Current exhibition: Through June 11, 2011, the Barry Whistler Gallery is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a group exhibition featuring 25 artists, who are presenting works in several mediums, including painting, sculpture, print, drawing and photography.

Dunn and Brown Contemporary

5020 Tracy St.
Dallas, TX
(214) 521-4322

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Dunn and Brown Contemporary started small in 1999, but it’s now considered a major exhibition space in Dallas, representing more than 30 artists, many of whom are Texas-based. Focusing on groundbreaking (and often eclectic) contemporary art in a variety of media, the gallery has exhibited work by artists such as Chuck Close, Ellsworth Kelly and Richard Serra.

Current exhibition: Through June 30, 2011, Dunn and Brown Contemporary is exhibiting Vernon Fisher, 1989-1999 and Xiaoze Xie: Transient Memories. Fort Worth native Fisher, who is influenced by artists such as Ed Ruscha and Willam Wegman, focuses on storytelling in his art, which combines text, photography and found objects. Chinese-born Xie’s show features 10 inkworks on rice paper, and a painting depicting political events in China.

Firehouse Art Studio & Gallery

4147 Meadowbrook Dr.
Fort Worth, TX
(817) 534-1166

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Housed in a historically recognized building (formerly Firestations #20), the Firehouse Art Studio and Gallery is a neighborhood cultural gem.  The charming space (until recently, the gallery had its own firetruck) houses an ever-changing selection of work from local artists and hosts music and performance events, including a recent jazz karaoke gathering.

Current exhibition: ‘Garage Sale’ is on view through July 9, 2011 at the Firehouse Art Studio and Gallery. Featuring the oil paintings of artist Debora Young, the show captures garage sales around east Fort Worth.

Rebecca Low Sculptural Metal Gallery & Studio

7608 Camp Bowie West
Fort Worth, TX
(817) 244-1151

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Artist Rebecca Low opened her gallery and studio in 1998, and it now houses her sculptures, constructed from found objects, cooper, aluminum, brass and steel.  Her gallery also includes a sculpture garden, which is convenient since many of her sculptures are large, ranging from 3 to well over 20 feet. From a 7-foot tall robot made out of car parts named Carlotta, to sculptures and fountains made out of found objects, many of Low’s works are fun and whimsical. The gallery also features the work of other artists such as Kent Maris and Noblique.

Current exhibition: Rebecca Low’s work are on view in the galleries. Don’t miss her impression of the Moai in Easter Island, made out of found objects. Each “face” is lit, so it is quite a sight in the dark.

Artspace111

111 Hampton Street
Fort Worth, TX
(817) 692-3228

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What started as an art space 30 years ago in a a run-down warehouse is now one of Fort Worths’s premier galleries for emerging and mid-career Texas artists. But more than just holding monthly exhibitions of contemporary art, it is also home to artists’ working studios, adding to the unique, dynamic appeal of the space. The gallery, well-known for its lively exhibition openings and events, also houses an outdoor garden.

Current exhibition: The Crew: A Group Exhibition is on view through August 31, 2011. It features the work of several Artspace regulars, which include Matt Clark, John Hartley, and Nancy Lamb.

Visit more art galleries. Check out these other great spaces in DFW:  William Campbell Contemporary (Fort Worth), Gallery 414 (Fort Worth), Kettle Art Gallery (Dallas), Artisan’s Collective (Dallas), Decorazon Gallery (Dallas)