Overview

Few institutions have influenced modern and contemporary art more profoundly than the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Since its founding in 1929, MoMA has remained at the cutting edge of cultural conversation, redefining what a museum can be — not just a place to look, but a place to think, to feel, to question. Nestled in Midtown Manhattan, its sleek, light-filled galleries house an extraordinary collection of works that span painting, sculpture, photography, design, film, architecture, and performance.

MoMA’s roster of iconic works reads like a visual canon of the 20th and 21st centuries: Van Gogh’s swirling The Starry Night, Picasso’s game-changing Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, Dalí’s dreamlike Persistence of Memory, Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans, and Matisse’s joyous cut-outs. These are not just artworks — they are milestones in the evolution of thought and form. The museum also boasts an unrivalled collection of works by American masters, including Pollock, Rothko, Johns, and O’Keeffe, all part of a wider narrative that places modernism in global perspective.

What makes MoMA particularly special is its commitment to living art. The museum’s exhibitions often challenge conventional boundaries, spotlighting emerging voices and addressing urgent issues from climate change to gender and race. Its design and architecture galleries are among the most forward-thinking in the world, while its film and media wing captures the full spectrum of visual culture. The sculpture garden, a serene oasis amid Manhattan’s bustle, offers a meditative counterpoint to the innovation indoors.

MoMA isn’t just a place to see art — it’s a place to understand the present moment through creativity. Every visit feels like a provocation, an invitation to rethink the familiar, and a reminder that art is not static, but ever-evolving — just like the city that surrounds it.

Curated by the World Travel Awards