The National Gallery (Narodna galerija) has since 1925 been housed in the building of the National Centre (Narodni dom), which was built by the Czech architect František Edmund Škabrout in 1896 on the model of Prague's National Theatre (Národní divadlo). It served as a venue for cultural events organised by various national societies. Its basement housed a gym of the Sokol Society (Društvo Sokol). The building's outward appearance was akin to that of a basilica with a taller central wing and shorter side wings. Its façade was designed in neo-Renaissance style.

The National Gallery building now houses the national collections of Slovenian art from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century and numerous temporary exhibitions. In the recent times, it has undergone two reconstructions. In 1993 it was added a postmodernist style annexe designed by Edvard Ravnikar, who died before the construction was completed. In 2001, a glass extension designed by the architectural studio Sadar&Vuga arhitekti was added to the new annexe to connect it with the main building. The glass extension is used as the Gallery's entrance hall and a venue for various events.