New York City is blessed with many world famous art museums, all of which are worth a visit. Take at least a day out of your visit to the Big Apple to browse the art museums and be stunned by the wonderful works loaned to or owned by these galleries.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is on Fifth Avenue. It has a massive collection the Louvre in Paris or the National Gallery in London would be proud to own. It's American Collection is enormous. It's held in the Henry R. Luce Center for the Study of American Art. The museum hosts lectures and concerts throughout the year. Visitors can browse at their own speed or join a guided tour. The gift shop offers everything artistic including jewelry, books, prints, sculpture, stationary, and more.
The Cloisters Museum and Garden
Visitor may also want to take in the Cloisters Museum and Garden at 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park in Northern Manhattan. It is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, particularly devoted to the architecture, art and gardens of medieval Europe. The cloistered structure was built from salvaged 12th -15th century elements. This branch holds thousands of original medieval works. The cloister garden is a beautiful spot to while away an afternoon.
The Guggenheim
The Guggenheim is also on Fifth Avenue and has attracted visitors from around the world for 50 years since its founding in 1959. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a unique architectural landmark designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
The art collection centers mainly around 20th and 21st century art with a growing collection of 19th century art. In total, approximately 7000 works fill the gallery walls. Visitors will find works from Pablo Picasso to Jackson Pollock, Vasily Kandinsky to Paul Klee, and Paul Cézanne to Salvador Dalí.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is located at 1071 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street. The museum has ongoing exhibitions. An exhibition of art by Kandinsky is on until January, 2010.
The Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art opened in 1929. The museum's collection is primarily that of contemporary and modernist art including design, paintings, sculpture photography, prints and books. The museum's library is a magnet for researchers holding nearly 400,000 books and primary source artist files.
It houses a wonderful collection of modern art with works by Henri Rousseau, Salvador Dali, Paul Gauguin, Frida Kahlo, Max Ernst and many, many other well known artists.
The Museum of Modern Art is located at 11 West 53rd Street, Manhattan.
Other New York Art Museums of Note
There are numerous other New York art museums worth visiting. Visit the Whitney Museum of Contemporary Art at 945 Madison Avenue, the Museum of American Folk Art at 2 Lincoln Square, or take the subway to Flushing Meadows in Queens and visit the Queens Museum of Art. All are well-known art museums.
References
- Manhattan User's Guide, Charles A. Suisman and Carol Molesworth, Hyperion, 1996
- The Guggenheim
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