The gallery was opened in March 2001 under the name "Surgut Art Gallery", later it was renamed to MBUK GSI "Stern". Before March 2001, the building of the gallery was used as one of the exhibition halls of the Surgut Local History Museum.

The main tasks of the gallery include supporting the artistic environment of the city, providing access to the best examples of contemporary and classical art and promoting them, forming a value-based attitude towards art, and raising the level of aesthetic needs of the audience.

The name "Stern" was given to the gallery in 2005. Stern is the Siberian white crane, which is listed in the Red Book and is endangered. This name also symbolizes the disappearance of culture and contemporary art from our lives.

The gallery does not have permanent exhibitions of its collection works. Annually, about 20 exhibitions of various nature and level are held in its halls, including works by local, Russian, and foreign artists, as well as group and solo exhibitions.