Museums
The best current and upcoming MoMA exhibits
The incubator for 20th century art, the Museum of Modern Art (founded in 1929) has sheparded cutting-edge movements such as Cubism, Futurism, Surrealism,...
In an interview in 1964, MoMA’s founding director, Alfred Barr, described what it was that distinguished his institution from other NYC art museums: “[MoMA] is a torpedo moving through time, its head the ever-advancing present, its tail the ever-receding past of 50 to 100 years ago.” His statement reflected the prevailing midcentury view that modernism represented a progressive chronicle in which the torch of important art was passed from Europe to the United States. And indeed, after opening in 1929, MoMA became key to spreading the gospel of modern art over the course of the 20th century, positioning itself as a kind of temple for only the most dedicated aficionados. Today, that approach has largely been discarded in favor of a more inclusive program that features women and artists of color, as well as lesser-known figures from global reaches beyond Europe and the United States. MoMA has become increasingly user-friendly through successive expansions—the most recent of which, in 2019, added 40,000 square feet of new exhibition space, including street-facing galleries free to the public, as well as a dedicated venue for live programming and performances. Current amenities include MoMA’s sculpture garden and cinema, as well a Michelin-starred restaurant run by Danny Meyer (don’t worry; there are also less-expensive dining options). Then there’s The MoMA Design Store, which sells furnishings and other merchandise as well as books. Still, it’s hard for MoMA to completely shake of its legacy; people still come to see famous artists such as Picasso and Matisse, after all. But through repeated renewal and re-invention, MoMA has exceeded its original role as modernism’s incubator to become one of NYC’s most important—and visited—museums.
Where is the Museum of Modern Art?
The museum is at 11 W 53rd St, between Fifth Ave and Avenue of the Americas.
How do I get tickets to the Museum of Modern Art?
Tickets can be purchased here, online at the MoMA website or at the museum entrance.
What’s the best way to get to the Museum of Modern Art?
Take the B, D, F, M to 47–50th Sts–Rockefeller Ctr; E, M to Fifth Ave–53rd St.
