An image display apparatus includes a display which displays an image based on an image signal. An ambient light measuring unit measures the intensity of ambient light around the display. A brightness distribution measuring unit measures a brightness distribution in a scene when the image signal is obtained. A parameter calculator calculates a correction parameter for correcting a partial contrast of the image based on the ambient light intensity and brightness distribution in the scene. A contrast correction unit corrects a partial contrast of the image by correcting the image signal by using the calculated correction parameter.