9 Best Art Museums in New York City

New York City has long been famous for drawing people— travelers and immigrants— to explore the lengths and breadths of the city.

People have always gravitated towards the glitz and glamour of the city. They have also found the limitless opportunities of the city irresistible.

The city does not bring the best of both worlds, it brings the best of all worlds.

To be more precise, it brings the best of all the communities and races that call New York City their home.

The same is applicable to the art that can be found within the confines of the city.

New York has a number of art museums that contain astoundingly vast collections of art pieces and artefacts.

Given below are the names of the best art museums in New York City—

1. The Museum of Modern Art.

The MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) is a humongous art museum that was founded in the year 1929.

Its huge collection boasts paintings, photos, sculptures, prints, interactive art pieces, videos, gripping art installations, immersive experiences and performances.

The permanent collection showcases artworks from the 1880s to the present era. Some of the artists highlighted are Rosa Barba, Jack Whitten, Otobong Nkanga and Robert Frank.

The exhibits have been divided according to specific artists, distinct time periods, individual mediums of art and a shared concept or art.

In addition to the permanent and temporary exhibits, the Museum of Modern Art regularly hosts events and workshops that promote and support art and culture.

What else does the MoMA provide? A venue for education and research.

The museum has a number of free online courses available for art enthusiasts who want to learn and expand their knowledge, and develop their artistic skills.

Spanning over an area of 630,000 sq. ft., the Museum of Modern Art is perhaps one of the most famous New York art museums.

Hence, it is advisable to buy the ticket online and in advance. Kids who are 16 years old and younger can visit the MoMA for free.

However, they would still need a ticket for the visit. Keep this in mind if you plan to visit the Museum of Modern Art with kids.      

2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in the 19th century. It is unquestionably one of the best art museums in New York.

The architecture of the building where the museum is located is of Gothic Revival style. So, the building itself can be considered a piece of art.

It is definitely a sight to behold; especially for an architecture aficionado.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art represents 5,000 years of artistic history. It has about 490,000 pieces or paintings, sculptures and artefacts in its permanent collection.

Along with that, it also displays photographs, musical instruments, fabrics, arms & armours, drawings and prints in its exhibits.

The museum brings together a space where European, Roman, Asian, Greek, Islamic and Medieval artworks can co-exist freely.

Plus, it showcases clothes that were designed by famous fashion designers; designers that were considered to be giant icons in the field of fashion and style.

Along with its vast permanent collection, the MET also hosts temporary exhibitions highlighting the works of skilled artists spread across various mediums of art.

3. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

The building that houses Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum looks more like a beautiful sculptural piece than a building.

It was designed by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

It is one of those art museums in NYC that you absolutely should not miss on your New York trip.

Originally founded in the late 1930s, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s current building was completed in 1959. It is one of the many New York City Landmarks.

The building has gained the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site, such is its magnificence.

Once you step inside, you will see amazing creations painted and sculpted by gifted artists.

The museum’s permanent collection has about 7,000 pieces of art that were acquired through donations, special commissions and direct purchases.

It features artworks by Vasily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall, Alberto Giacometti, Picasso, David Smith, Paul Klee, Alexander Calder, Jean Arp and Constantin Brâncuși.

Other than the permanent collection, the museum showcases paintings, sculptures, art installations and performances by contemporary artists.

4. Whitney Museum of American Art.

When you want to visit the best art museums in New York City, the Whitney Museum of American Art is a spot that you just need to include in your itinerary.

Founded in 1930, the Whitney Museum of American Art contains galleries covering an area of more than 50,000 sq. ft.            

If you can’t imagine just how big it is, let us tell you, it is HUGE.

Moreover, it also has four different outdoor spaces where temporary art exhibitions are held.

Situated in Manhattan, Whitney Museum of American Art’s permanent collection accommodates over 26,000 pieces of art.

These art pieces are the creations of American artists; about 4,000 of them.

Whitney Museum of American Art has drawings, paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures, films, videos and artefacts in its intriguing collection.

What’s more?

There’s a library with countless books and multiple reading spaces; where book lovers can spend a few hours exploring the books in its collection.  

The same building that houses the museum also has a restaurant and a bar for visitors to satisfy their hunger pangs.

Even the building where the museum is located can be called a piece of art; such is its beauty and grandeur.

5. Museum of Arts and Design.

Compared to other New York City art museums, the Museum of Arts and Design is relatively new. It was established in 1956.

At the art museum’s current location (2 Columbus Circle), the art exhibits are spread across four floors covering an area of 54,000 sq. ft.

The Museum of Arts and Design displays the artworks of both— established and emerging artists.

Some of the many talented artists featured in this museum’s exhibitions include Saya Woolfalk, Dana Barnes, Patric Jacobs, Judith Schaechter, Charles Simonds and Jonathan Adler.

The diversified collection of art at this inclusive museum not only exhibits paintings, sculptures, photos and installations; it also pushes the boundaries of art and society by putting up installations pertaining to pregnancy & motherhood, queer relationships, private jewellery collections and different types of goblets.

Also, the mediums of art seen at this museum is widely varied. You get to see art pieces made out of metal, glass, wool, fibre and ceramic along with the more traditional mediums of art such as water colour, clay, oil paints and the likes.

Lovingly, the Museum of Arts and Design has been nicknamed as MAD! And appropriately so.

Some of the art pieces and installations displayed in its many temporary exhibitions can be described as quirky and unusual.

You need to visit the art museum and actually experience everything that it has to offer in order to understand the magnitude of the brilliance of the artists that it showcases.

Art is supposed to make the viewer think and feel things, on multiple levels if possible. That is exactly what the artworks of this amazing NYC art museum are able to do.

6. Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art.

Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art is the only art museum in New York— and the entire world— that is dedicated to preserving and exhibiting art created by LGBTQIA+ artists.

The museum helps artists from the LGBTQIA+ community showcase their artwork and support them in their artistic endeavours.

In their own words, the museum “provides a platform for artistic exploration through multi-faceted queer perspectives”.

If you are a part of the LGBTQIA+, or their supporter, or just curious, or simply an art-lover, you absolutely need to add the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art in your itinerary.

This amazing art museum was established in 2016.

The museum’s founders, Charles Leslie and Fritz Lohman, were partners who shared a love for art, and loved collecting it.

The museum’s permanent collection contains as many as 30,000 art pieces.

Plus, the museum's temporary art exhibitions feature past and contemporary artists working with various mediums of art.  

Andy Warhol, Scott Treleaven, Keith Haring, Hunter Reynolds, Robert Mapplethorpe, Gian Cruz and Amir Nikravan are some of the many artists whose artworks have been displayed in Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art’s exhibitions.  

7. El Museo del Barrio.

El Museo del Barrio was founded by the artist Raphael Montañez Ortiz and a group of prolific Puerto Rican artists who wanted to counter the lack of representation in other art museums of NYC till then.

This museum was established in 1969. Its primary focus is to highlight the artworks of Caribbean and Latin American artists.

Along with showcasing art pieces, the museum is instrumental in educating the masses about the rich cultural heritage of the Caribbeans and Latin Americans.

They hold regular bilingual public programs, festivals, educational activities and special events for this purpose.

El Museo del Barrio’s permanent collection contains about 8,500 pieces of art spanning more than 800 years of Caribbean, Latin American and Latino art and culture.

Here you will get to see everything from paintings, sculptures, clothes, drawings and installations to photos, prints, films and videos.

If you love to learn about or simply appreciate different types of art and culture, then this art museum is a place that you just cannot miss.

El Museo del Barrio is counted amongst the best art museums of New York City.  

8. ARTECHOUSE.

ARTECHOUSE is not a regular art museum. It is a place where art meets innovation to create unique masterpieces.

In their own words, ARTECHOUSE is a place “where creative innovation has no limits”.

They use state-of-the-art technology in specially designed spaces to create not just art but a whole immersive experience.

Here you’ll see rooms where the walls, ceilings and floors are splashed with paintings digitally. When you stand in the room, it makes you feel like you are a part of the painting.

Visiting this museum can be soul-enriching for many people.

The museum had showcased artworks like Life of a Neuron, Submerge and Peak Bloom. All of these artworks have won prestigious awards.

This amazing NYC art museum have highlighted the creations of uber-talented artists such as Zach Lieberman, Refik Anadol, Adrien M., fuse*, NONOTAK, Daito Manabe and Claire B.

Along with New York City, the ARTECHOUSE has its branches in Houston, Miami and Washington, D.C. as well.          

9. The Bronx Museum of the Arts.

Though the Bronx Museum of the Arts might not be that well known amongst travelers, it is one of those places that offer a rich cultural experience.

This art museum was founded by Irma Fleck in 1971.

The museum’s permanent collection has over 1,800 works of art (paintings, drawings, sculptures, photos, installations etc.).  

These art pieces were created by various contemporary artists belonging to diverse backgrounds.

Pepon Osorio (Puerto Rico), Nikki S. Lee (Korea), Tania Bruguera (Cuba), Xu Bing (China) and Romare Bearden (US) are some of the brilliant artists featured in the Bronx Museum of the Arts’ permanent collection.

Other than its permanent collection, this New York City art museum hosts temporary art exhibitions promoting new and promising artists.

They also organise art workshops where people of all ages can learn to paint and draw.

While planning for a New York trip, you may think what is the best art museum to visit in New York City?

Now you have the answer. Choose one or many of the art museums of NYC and have a great trip.