Google’s Pocket Galleries Are Now Open to Everyone

Google's Pocket Gallery series, which provides virtual gallery visits on your smartphone via Augmented Reality (AR), has been made available to everyone.

The company's announcement explains that now the entire series of Pocket Galleries can be viewed by anyone with an internet connection. So whether you're on a computer or a smartphone, and regardless of your ability to use AR, it's available to you.

You can check out an assortment of Vermeer's paintings, learn about Bauhaus, explore the Chauvet Cave, scrutinize Gustav Klimt, and more. You just have to enter the gallery when a virtual walkthrough is available, and you're (digitally) in.

You can wander through the virtual exhibition space similarly to using Google Maps' Street View capabilities. It's worth noting that not every collection has a virtual gallery option available, though there are still plenty of example images and explanations.

Along with the expanded availability a new gallery has also been added, in collaboration with the Réunion des Musées Nationaux - Grand Palais. This new Maritime Inspirations exhibit showcases "...40 marine masterpieces from the collections of the Palace of Versailles, the Louvre, and other prominent European museums," according to the announcement.

This includes a guided tour, with narration provided automatically as you reach different areas of the gallery space.

Computer users can check out various galleries on Google's Arts & Culture website.

Smartphone users can download the Android or iOS Google Arts & Culture app for free and take an AR tour using the Camera tab.