Museum Of Modern Art
Museum Of Modern Art
5 minutes read•Published on 05-10-2024
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City stands as a remarkable sanctuary for contemporary and modern art lovers. Founded in 1929, MoMA has grown exponentially to become a globally acclaimed museum that houses a diverse array of cutting-edge paintings, sculptures, installations, prints, illustrated books, photography, film, digital art, and architectural models. The museum is renowned for its bold, avant-garde exhibitions that push the boundaries of creativity, making it a crucial meeting place for artists, scholars, and art enthusiasts alike. The dynamic atmosphere of the MoMA not only encompasses significant artworks from the past but also supports and promotes emerging artists and new media, contributing to the ever-evolving narrative of the modern art scene.
Tickets & tours
A selection of the best tours to experience the Museum Of Modern Art with our partner GetYourGuide. These tours offer the best experience for visitors from all around the world.
A short history
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, is one of the most influential museums of modern art in the world. Its inception dates back to 1929, the brainchild of three progressive women: Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, Lillie P. Bliss, and Mary Quinn Sullivan. These visionary women were challenged by the conservative practices of traditional museums, so they established MoMA as an innovative platform that could adapt to the ever-changing nature of modern art.
The museum opened its doors to the public on November 7, 1929, nine days after the Wall Street Crash, with an exhibition which showcased the architecture and design of modern European artists. Within a decade, MoMA had already achieved global recognition as it was adventurous to exhibit art forms often ignored by other museums, such as architecture, photography, film, and industrial design. It also firmly grounded its mission to help people understand, enjoy, and use visual arts of their time.
MoMA underwent numerous expansions and renovations throughout its history to accommodate its growing collection and visitors. In 1939, it moved to its location on 53rd Street to the building designed by the modernist architects Philip L. Goodwin and Edward Durell Stone. Notably, in 2004, MoMA underwent a major renovation under Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi, which nearly doubled its space for exhibitions and added a new six-story building.
Throughout its history, the Museum of Modern Art has been home to some of the most important works in contemporary art, including works by iconic artists like Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, and Andy Warhol. It continues to play a crucial role in developing and collecting modern art and is viewed as an icon of modern and contemporary art worldwide, hosting about 3 million visitors annually.
One reason to visit
The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh.
The iconic artwork, The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, is housed at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. This painting represents van Goghs expressionistic view of the night sky from his rooms window at the asylum where he was staying. Brightly colored swirling sky patterns, well-defined stars, a luminous crescent moon, and a quiet village underneath the celestial scene empowers the viewers to experience van Goghs emotional landscape. This revered masterpiece is a sight to behold within the museum walls, as its captivating visuals along with the emotional lendings visibly represented, allow visitors to gain a deep-founded appreciation of van Goghs unique style of artistry and his turbulent state of mind. A close-up view of the painting at the MoMA provides an understanding of the texture, brush strokes and color depth that digital reproductions fail to convey, making your visit a profound experience.
Getting there
If you are planning to walk to the Museum of Modern Art in New York, start by finding the nearest subway station. Take the E or V train to the Fifth Avenue/53rd Street station. When you exit the station, you should find yourself on 53rd Street. Start walking west towards 6th Avenue. Here, you will need to make a right turn and walk north for one block until you reach 54th Street. The entrance of the museum is located between 53rd and 54th Streets, mid-block, closer to 6th Avenue.
Assuming you're starting from Central Park, you should head south towards Columbus Circle. Your first main move will be to make a right turn onto 59th street. You will need to continue on this road until reaching 7th Avenue. At the 7th Avenue intersection, proceed straight onto Central Park South. The road will curve to the right and automatically become 5th Avenue. Your final turn will be a left onto 53rd street, after which you'll find the Museum of Modern Art on your right between 5th and 6th Avenue. Please be cautious of traffic and abide by all road safety rules plus cycling regulations throughout your journey.
The Museum of Modern Art, also known as MoMA, is easily accessible by public transportation in New York. If you are using subway, take the E or M train to the 5th Avenue/53rd Street station or the B or D train to the 47-50 Streets/Rockefeller Center station. Alternatively, you can take the 6 train to the 51st Street/Lexington Avenue station and walk west. If you prefer to use the bus, you can take the M1, M2, M3, or M4 bus to the 53rd Street stop. Remember, MoMA's full address is 11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, and its business hours are 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM from Saturday through Thursday, with extended hours until 8:00 PM on Fridays.
From Central Park, drive southwest on 5th Ave for about 0.3 miles. Turn right onto E 57th St and proceed for about 0.2 miles. Next, make a left turn onto 6th Ave/Avenue of the Americas and drive for about 0.1 miles. The Museum of Modern Art will be on the right side. There is a parking garage located at 15 W 54th St, between 5th and 6th Ave, which is roughly a 2-minute walk from the museum. Exact location of the museum is 11 West 53rd Street, Manhattan, New York 10019. Also, consider checking local traffic updates and the museum's operation hours before the visit.
