Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Museums , Art and design Midtown West
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Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Photograph: Michael Kirby
The Museum of Modern Art

Considering the MoMA’s reputation for having one of the world’s finest collections of art from the 18th century through today, it’s no surprise that around nearly every corner of the venerated museum is a seminal piece by an artist trumpeted in art history or coveted by contemporary collectors. During the height of tourist season, around Christmas and again in late spring and summer, expect a shoving-match just to catch a momentary glance at Van Gogh’s Starry Night or Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Special exhibitions, including retrospectives of masters like surrealist René Magritte and large installations like the blockbuster Rain Room, have enough draw that some people will wait for hours just for the one exhibit. Meanwhile, no matter the time of year or temporary display, cash-strapped New Yorkers come in droves at the end of the work-week for free friday nights (4pm-8pm). If you really want to experience the museum and all it has to offer go on a weekday and buy your all-inclusive ticket online ($25). You’ll skip the line and find yourself unencumbered as you stop to contemplate the meaning of time in front of Salvador Dali’s melted-clock painting The Persistance of Memory or checking out the movie times in the attached theater.

By: Tolly Wright

Posted:

Venue name: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Contact:
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Address: 11 W 53rd St
New York
10019
Cross street: between Fifth and Sixth Aves
Opening hours: Mon–Thu, Sat, Sun 10:30am–5:30pm; Fri 10:30am–8pm.
Transport: Subway: B, D, F, M to 47–50th Sts–Rockefeller Ctr; E, M to Fifth Ave–53rd St
Price: $25, seniors $18, students $14, children under 16 free. For discounts, order tickets in advance at moma.org. Fri 4–8pm free. Film tickets free with museum admission; screenings-only admission $12, seniors $10, students $8, children under 16 free.
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      • Art

        “Bruce Conner: It’s All True”

        Conner (1933–2008) is among the most important postwar artists you’ve probably never heard of. A pioneer of the West Coast scene and an early practitioner of found-object assemblage, he delved into rise of consumerist culture and fears of nuclear armageddon...

        Contemporary art Until Sunday October 2 2016
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      • Art

        Kai Althoff

        A dreamy, surreal amalgam of Expressionist and Symbolist tropes characterizes the art of this German artist who works in multiple mediums, including ceramics, weaving, drawing, painting and sculpture. His creations range from discrete objects to room-size...

        • 4 out of 5 stars
        Contemporary art Until Sunday January 22 2017
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      • Art

        “Tony Oursler: Imponderable”

        As part of a re-installation of its contemporary art galleries, MoMA is setting aside space for several room-size installations, including Oursler’s immersive, feature-length video phantasmagoria, which takes a humorously skewed look at stage magic, spirit...

        Contemporary art Until Sunday January 8 2017
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      • Things to do

        Quiet Mornings

        Get to MoMA for a relaxed morning of art and meditation, before the hordes of tourists take over come 10:30am. You can take your time perusing the fourth and fifth-floor galleries, passing by soothing pieces of Monet, Rothko and more. If you get saturated...

        Walks and tours Wednesday October 5 2016 - Wednesday October 19 2016
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      • Art

        “Francis Picabia: Our Heads Are Round so Our Thoughts Can Change Direction”

        This is the first comprehensive retrospective in the United States of the work of Francis Picabia, a leading light of the Dadaist movement. A close friend and frequent partner-in-crime of Marcel Duchamp, Picabia was a stylistic shapeshifter, but while...

        Contemporary art Sunday November 20 2016 - Sunday March 19 2017
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      Average User Rating

      4.3 / 5

      Rating Breakdown

      • 5 star:1
      • 4 star:2
      • 3 star:0
      • 2 star:0
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      LiveReviews|3
      NaN people listening
      Adam V
      tastemaker

      Big fan of modern art - one of my favorite museums globally, and certainly an NYC institution. Keep a look out for specials, discounts, and 'free' days/nights. There may be longer waits, but it's always fun to know places like this can be accessible to everyone (especially if the cost is a limiting factor - it can add up for fees, membership, audio/guided tours, gift shop runs, food ,etc.) There is always something new to see with rotating exhibitions (which I think are wonderfully curated and add a special emphasis to some of the existing collection - past favorites of mine have been retrospectives on the modern/post modern periods and dadaism), but don't forgot the legendary standing galleries, set-ups and famous pieces (Dali, and Warhol are standouts for me). Audio (and especially guided) tours are absolutely worth it - to help provide context and meaning, though there is so much, it can also be pleasant to just browse and follow up on the pieces that pique your interest. The gift shops and cafes are certainly up to snuff (in terms of quality, service, cleanliness, etc.) but are more of a supplementary experience if you have the time.

      Jillian Anthony

      This is my favorite museum to frequent in New York, even if it seemingly always packed with people. I don't care how cliche Monet's Water Lilies are, I love to stare at them. There's also a good amount of outdoor space to explore and sit quietly in the middle of the city during warmer months. The best advice I can give is if you're looking forward to a particular exhibit, go EARLY, both in the day as well as in the exhibit's life. If you wait till the last weekend, like I did with Picasso Sculptures, it just won't be an enjoyable experience. 

      Evelyn D

      Not gonna lie, I've visited MoMA more than any other museum in NYC. They have the exhibitions that are most interesting to me, generally. I also take advantage of the free admission Friday evenings too. Amazing collection of modern art, I personally love the collection of surrealist art they have. Joseph Cornell's boxes are a favorite. The 4 stars are because this place can and will get insanely crowded and you either have to accept that or try and plan to go at a less crazy time.