How to Build A Virtual Gallery in Decentraland
By Decentraland, , in About Decentraland
If you’ve ever dreamed of curating your own gallery or exhibiting digital art to the world, Decentraland’s Creator Hub makes it possible in just a few steps. Whether you’re an artist, curator, or NFT collector, this beginner-friendly guide shows how to build, customize, and share a 3D virtual gallery that lives forever on the blockchain.
Exhibiting in traditional galleries or art fairs can be out of reach for many emerging artists—booth fees alone can exceed USD 20,000, reported Artsy, and shows like the Affordable Art Fair charge USD 13,000+ for a small space, according to Artnet News. Add shipping, installation, insurance, and commission cuts, and most artists end up priced out of global exposure.
Virtual galleries eliminate those barriers. With no venue rental, shipping, or staffing costs, artists can reach worldwide audiences 24/7 without needing gallery representation or physical space. The Financial Times reported that one recent online fair hosted over 136,000 visitors, proving how accessible and visible digital exhibitions can be. In Decentraland, global engagement is happening regularly; during Art Week 2025, visitors spent an average of 72 minutes exploring exhibitions, exchanged over 20,000 chat messages, and more than 1,000 friend requests were accepted, showing just how immersive and socially connected a virtual art experience can be.
In Decentraland, your gallery becomes part of an open, traversable world where anyone can walk in, discover your work, and connect with you directly. It’s not just an alternative to traditional exhibition, it’s a way to own your creative space and share it with the world.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your First Virtual Gallery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ_UYh7IUf8
Step 1: Download the Creator Hub
Start by downloading the Creator Hub app for Mac or Windows. Once installed, open the app and sign in.
Inside the Creator Hub, you’ll find options to create new scenes. Select ‘Art Gallery’ from the templates: this comes pre-built with display walls, lighting, and background music so you can focus on your art rather than starting from scratch.
Step 2: Explore the Scene Editor
The scene editor is where your creative process begins. Use your keyboard (W, A, S, D) to move around and Q or E to move up and down. You can click and drag to rotate the camera and explore your space.
Every object in your gallery—paintings, trees, text—is listed on the left panel, while the right panel shows properties like position, scale, and rotation. This gives you full control over every detail of your exhibition.
Step 3: Add Your Art
To add your own pieces, simply drag and drop JPG or PNG files into the Assets section. From there, assign them to the placeholder canvases or replace the default artwork with your own.
You can also showcase NFTs by selecting an NFT frame in your scene (see ‘NFT’ and ‘NFT_2’), then pasting the contract address and token ID from your NFT’s OpenSea page (found under ‘Details’). This pulls the artwork directly from the blockchain into your gallery. Both animated and static NFTs display beautifully, and you can customize their frame and background to suit your aesthetic.
Step 4: Add 3D Objects, Music, and Interactivity
Want to include sculptures or installations? Drag GLB or GLTF files into your scene to add 3D models, then adjust their scale. You can also swap out the ambient soundtrack by uploading an MP3 file, whether it’s gentle piano or upbeat house, sound can shape the atmosphere.
To make the experience interactive, use Smart Items. For example:
Add social icons that link to your Instagram or OpenSea.
Make a sculpture clickable so visitors can open the NFT listing.
Create info panels or text signs that tell the story behind each work.
Step 5: Preview and Publish
Click ‘Preview’ to step into your gallery as an avatar. Adjust lighting and time-of-day to perfect the mood—whether you want golden-hour glow or a moody night scene.
When you’re ready, publish it. If you publish on LAND, your gallery becomes part of Decentraland’s open, traversable world—a space anyone can discover while exploring Genesis City. If you publish to a World, it lives as a standalone experience with its own link—ideal for artists who want more room, lower costs, or full creative control without needing LAND ownership. Worlds are affordable, high-capacity spaces perfect for exhibitions and larger installations, and many artists now use them to host their shows.
👉Claim your Decentraland NAME and start building your World
👉Purchase LAND in Genesis City
Why Artists Love Building in Decentraland
True ownership: Your gallery is entirely yours. You decide what goes in it, how it looks, and who can visit.
Creative freedom: No coding required, but unlimited customization.
Global reach: Visitors from 180+ countries can explore your work.
Sustainability: Built on an open-source protocol owned by its community.
Ready to Get Started?
Bring your art to life in 3D and make it accessible to the world.
Download the Creator Hub and start building today.