| :: New York City >Midtown
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Attraction >Museum
| Museum Of Modern Art |
Address:
11 W. 53rd St.
| New York City | 10019
Region:
Midtown
Rating:
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More Info
Phone: 212-708-9400
FAX:
Website
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Description and Basic Information ::
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 Often referred to as ''Moma'' to native New Yorkers, the Museum of Modern Art is one of the city’s greatest cultural treasures. This world-renowned museum houses many of the finest works of art from the 20th century, including pieces from van Gogh, Picasso and Monet.
The Museum was opened in 1929 with the works of four artists: Cezanne, van Gogh, Gaugin and Seurat. The artists were relatively unknown in the United States at the time and the creators of the museum were taking quite a risk. Fortunately, the exhibition was a huge success and the Museum of Modern Art was born.
Since then, the museum has maintained a reputation of containing the most comprehensive collection of modern art in existence. The museum owns more than 100,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures and other works by the greatest artists of the 20th century. Most of the works are on display throughout the museum’s second and third floors. The first floor also is noteworthy, however, because of the 110-foot high atrium that meets visitors that enter from 54th street. The atrium contains trees, fountains and a sculpture garden.
Most visitors peruse the museum on a self-guided tour. Starting with Postimpressionism gallery, the tour will take you through the second- and third-floor galleries. After Postimpressionism, the tour moves on to Cubism, Dadaism, and Surrealism, ending with the Mexican art of the 1930s. Highlights on the second floor include the exhibits on Dadaism, the School of Paris, and Surrealistic drawings. Other highlights include the museum’s Department of Photography, which includes more than 15,000 prints.
The third floor continues with Mexican art and then moves into European art, abstract expressionism, pop art, and other modern pieces. This floor is comprised mostly of drawings, prints and illustrated books. Some of the notable pieces here include works from de Kooning, Jackson Pollack and Roy Lichtenstein.
The fourth floor houses the museum’s collection of architecture and design. MOMA is one of the few art museums with a section devoted to architecture. There are more than 60 models on display, along with more than 1,000 photos and drawings. Two of the featured architects are Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright. The design section of the museum displays items such as housewares, a Formula One racecar, and a Bell-47 helicopter.
MOMA is also known for its collection of movies and film. The museum owns more than 10,000 films, including classic and foreign films, and four million stills. The movies are run in the afternoon and evenings and are included free with general admission. |
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:: New York City >Midtown :: |
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