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The Ultimate Guide to the Museum of Modern Art in NYC

Starry night by Van Gogh at museum, Free public domain CC0 photo. More: Original public domain image from Flickr

Have you ever been to the Museum of Modern Art Museums NYC? Do you have a “must-sees” list? There are many exhibition selections accessible across the art museums in NYC. Are you wondering, “Which exhibits are most worth my time?” especially when you don’t have much time to spare? On this occasion, we highly recommend visiting the highly acclaimed Museum of Modern Art exhibitions. With almost 200,000 different paintings, sculptures, drawings, and the Museum of Modern Art photos on over six floors, you’ll definitely find at least one piece you’ll like! Here’s the guide we prepared for you to explore the artistic innovation in the MOMA.

About MoMA NY

Info on MoMA

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) was founded in 1929 in New York and plays a vital role in developing and collecting modern art. Alfred H. Barr is the founding director. The Museum of Modern Art NYC, built by Philip Goodwin and Edward Durell Stone in 1939, was later expanded with an addition designed by Philip Johnson. A condominium tower and a west wing that doubled the museum’s exhibition space were completed in 1984. Another expansion and reconfiguration of the museum, designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, was completed in 2004. The museum underwent a large expansion in 2019, which included a complete rehang of its collection.

MoMA is often considered one of the world’s largest and most influential modern art museums. It has a comprehensive collection of primarily American and European art from the late 19th century to the present, including architecture and design, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, illustration, and the artist’s books, film, and electronic media. Today, NY MoMA welcomes approximately 3 million visitors every year.  

Branches of MoMA

MoMA, Manhattan

the main exhibition located in Midtown Manhattan

Timings

Sunday to Friday, 10:30 am to 5:30 pm
Saturday: 10:30 am to 7 pm

Address

11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, United States

MoMA PS1

known for its live exhibitions which feature music, dance

Timings

Sunday & Monday: 12 pm to 6 pm
Thursday to Saturday: 12 pm to 8 pm
Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Address

22-25 Jackson Ave, Queens, NY 11101, United States

 

Getting to MoMA

MoMA, Manhattan

  • By Subway:  Take the E or M train to 5th Avenue/53rd Street, then walk for 3 minutes.
  • By Bus: 
  • From the east side of Manhattan, take the M1, M2, M3, M4, or M5 bus to 53rd Street. 
  • From the west side of Manhattan, take the M50 crosstown bus to 50th Street. Then, walk three blocks to 53rd Street.
  • By Car: (private car/ride-sharing car/taxi): If you decide to drive to the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, you can park your car in one of the following parking facilities:
  • ICON Parking: Located on 1330 Sixth Avenue, it will cost you $22 for about 2 hours.
  • The 1345 Garage: Located at 101-41 W. 54 St., it charges $20 for parking for up to two hours. 
  •  

MoMA PS1

  • By Subway:
  • Option 1: Take the 7 Local train to 33 St., Queens.
  • Option 2: Take the E or M trains to Court Square-23rd Street.
  • By Bus: 
  • Option 1: Take the Q32 from Madison Avenue in Manhattan at stops between 32 and 59 St to Queens Blvd/33 St.
  • Option 2: Take the Q60 from 60 St between First and Second Avenues to Queens Blvd./33 St. 
  • By Car (private car/ride-sharing car/taxi):
  • LaGuardia Commuter Parking: Located at 31-11 Thomson Avenue, at 31 Street and is open 24 hours. It costs about $5 to park for 1 hour.

Dining at MoMA

CAFE 2(second floor)

First-come, first-serve. 

Serve Italian-centric casual cuisine, including fresh pasta, panini, soups, salads, cheese and meat boards, and a full beverage menu.

TERRACE CAFE(sixth floor)

Small plates, shareable snacks, a selection of beer, wine, cocktails, and other beverages are served. The outdoor terrace offers stellar views of Midtown Manhattan.

THE MODERN

A Michelin-starred restaurant, accessible within the museum and from the exterior after the museum hours. Better reserve tables 28 days in advance. No tip.

 

Reminders before you go

  • Book a timed entry ticket in advance to save your time and energy. 
  • It’s best to visit the MoMA on a weekday rather than a weekend. 
  • Focus on more classic works on the fifth and fourth floors within a limited time.
  • The app Connects can provide free guided Tours and can be used in many other famous museums worldwide. 
  • The interpretation in MoMA is not limited to the work itself but also includes the third perspective of related people such as museum security guards, art therapists, people with disabilities, etc.
  • Admission to MoMA is free for all visitors during UNIQLO Free Friday Nights, which arefrom 4 pm to 8 pm on the first Friday of every month.

The Museum of Modern Art Tickets

It’s a better choice to buy your Museum of Modern Art NYC tickets online. It can not only help you avoid waiting in the long ticket counter lines but also save you time on the visit day. Show your online tickets on the phone and then you can walk into the Museum immediately. Your ticket also includes a free audio guide in several languages. If you go there with children under 16 years of age, they can go into the MoMA for free.

Must-see Artworks at the MoMA

Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh

Van Gogh painted it a year before his death while he was undergoing treatment at St. Paul’s Psychiatric Hospital in St. Remy. When you stand in front of the painting, you can see many unique elements, such as the different textures from thick paint and the stark contrast of the deep blues with vivid yellows. It can stir up a variety of emotions among viewers when they observe it up close in the modern Museum of Art.

Water Lilies by Claude Monet

Monet produced a series of monumental paintings in the last decades depicting the lily pond in his garden at Giverny. The method of expression used in the painting is relatively abstract. The spatial cues are dissolved by layers of smudging paint, mixing up, down, far, near, water and sky to create a “meditation sanctuary in the heart of a pool of blooming flowers.” The painting’s abstract forms and harmonious colour palette convey a sense of tranquillity and the beauty of nature, making it a timeless symbol of artistic innovation.

Piet Mondrian by Broadway Boogie-Woogie

After arriving in New York in 1940, Mondrian fell in love with the city and its music, particularly the Boogie-Woogie style. This influence can be seen in Mondrian’s Broadway Boogie-Woogie in MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art, which uses bright blocks of colour to create an optical illusion of rhythm. This masterpiece perfectly captures the liveliness of both New York City and the Boogie-Woogie musical style within its canvas.

Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso

In 1907, after visiting the Tocadello Museum of Anthropology in Paris, Picasso was aesthetically impacted by African sculpture and mask art, completely changed his creative style, and caused a sensation in the art world with the painting “Le Demoiselle d ‘Avignon”. “Avignon” is a street in Barcelona known for its brothels. The painting has five semi-abstract naked girls, and the two on the right are wearing African masks. The girl’s face is composed of broken geometric planes, and a sizeable flesh-pink body is compressed into a space without depth. It was a revolutionary work and Picasso’s first step towards Cubism.

Conclusion

Visiting The Museum of Modern Art Museums NYC immerses visitors in a world where creativity, innovation, and timeless elegance converge. It offers an unparalleled artistic experience that resonates with all who enter. After glancing at our guide to MoMA, you are informed of its address, opening hours, distinction, and so on to ensure you can have a better journey in the MoMA. As you explore its galleries, you’ll witness the evolution of modern art and gain insights into visionary minds shaping our cultural landscape. MoMA is a place worth visiting, standing as a testament to the transformative power of art.

FAQ

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), founded in 1929 and located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, is one of the most important modern and contemporary art museums in the world today.

The Met is more comprehensive, featuring everything from the art of the ancient world to contemporary photography, while MoMA specializes in modern and contemporary art.

There are two locations of MoMA.

One is in Midtown, Manhattan, located at 11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, USA.

One is in Queens, located at 22-25 Jackson Ave, Queens, NY 11101, United States.

Yes. MoMA has a design store adjacent to the museum. There, you can find a wide range of items, from home decor and office supplies to holiday cards and calendars.

Yes.

All galleries, facilities, and entrances are wheelchair accessible. Visitors are also offered wheelchairs on a first-come-first-served basis.

Braille, large print, and audio guides are available for the visually impaired.

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