Essential MoMA: Klook’s Guide to New York’s Famed Museum of Modern Art

A massive city filled with many world-class museums and renowned galleries, New York has more than enough art pieces and exhibits even for the pickiest of critics. However, with such a large and diverse selection of exhibits available across the art museums in New York City, it can be difficult to figure out what exactly should be on your “must-sees” list. You may even be asking yourself these questions: “Which museum or gallery should I visit?” and “Which collections are most worth my time?”, especially if you don’t have much time to spare.

If you’ve got enough time for only one place (though you should visit as many exhibits as possible during your trip to the Big Apple), we highly recommend a visit to the highly-acclaimed Museum of Modern Art in New York. With over six floors that house 200,000 different paintings, sculptures, photos, drawings, and many other types of art, you’re bound to find at least one thing you’ll like! And if you need a head start on finding your new favorite piece, you can check out our list of favorites below:

You’ll need to book a timed entry ticket before your visit to the Museum of Modern Art. To help you plan your entire trip better, try to do this before you arrive in New York so you can book the schedule you prefer most.

It’s best to visit the MoMA on a weekday rather than on a weekend. Try to visit in the middle of the day when most people are at work or school - either as soon as it opens or a couple of hours after lunch. You can stay inside for as long as you want to once you’ve entered the museum, and there are also plenty of restaurants and cafes inside for those who wish to spend the entire day there.

COVID-19 Restrictions: Visitors aged 5+ require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations to enter the museum. Visitors aged 2+ are also required to wear a mask during the length of their stay.

1. Vincent Van Gogh, Starry Night

Located at: Floor 5, 502, The Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries

Though reproductions of this masterpiece are available online, Van Gogh’s Starry Night takes on new meaning when seen in person. The painting has many unique elements to it that cannot be seen in pictures: the different textures from thick paint and the stark contrast of the deep blues with vivid yellows, to name a few, stir up a variety of emotions among viewers when they observe it up close. The tragic context of the painting also contributes to its fame, as it was painted by Van Gogh during his stay at the sanitarium. However, it is also a testament to his sheer skill: though the realistic painting depicts a village in the night, Van Gogh actually painted this during several daytime sessions.

2. Umberto Boccioni, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space

Located at: Floor 5, 502, The Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries

One of the pioneers of Italy’s Futurist movement, Boccioni’s Unique Forms of Continuity in Space is a testament to its period: created in the early 20th century after the Industrial Revolution took place in Europe, the sculpture portrays a figure in motion and engaging with forces around it. This is a stark contrast to sculptures before the Industrial Revolution, which adhered to Classical or Renaissance styles that depicted human figures in more natural or realistic settings. This piece from Boccioni also embodies his belief in art, as he believed that art should be closely related to qualities prevalent during its creation, rather than borrowing qualities from previous eras in art.

3. Piet Mondrian, Broadway Boogie-Woogie

Located at: Floor 5, 512, The David Geffen Wing

After he arrived in New York in 1940, Mondrian fell in love with the city and its music, particularly the Boogie-Woogie style. This can be seen in Mondrian’s Broadway Boogie-Woogie, which makes use of bright blocks of color to create an optical illusion of rhythm: when you observe the painting, whether in its entirety or a certain section, you’ll be able to witness how the different color blocks appear to jump, blink, and maybe even vibrate as if they’re dancing! This masterpiece perfectly captures the liveliness of both New York City and the Boogie-Woogie musical style within the four corners of its canvas.

4. Rene Magritte, The Menaced Assassin

Located at: Floor 5, 517, The Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries

A fan of the popular crime series Fantômas, Magritte recreates the figures of two detectives from the 1913 film Le Mort Qui Tue (The Murderous Corpse) in The Menaced Assassin to create an immersive mystery for the viewer. In the painting, the viewer, along with the two detectives hiding by the door frame carrying weapons, are witnesses to the crime that just occurred and are observing the murderer after the violent act. Upon observing the painting, the viewer is left asking themselves: “What happens next?”, which further plunges them into the world of crime fiction.

5. Claude Monet, Water Lilies

Located at: Floor 5, 515, The David Geffen Wing

Part of Monet’s Grandes Décorations project, a massive undertaking where he sought to create panels to decorate the walls of a big oval room, Water Lilies is a recreation of scenes from Monet’s pond and water garden at his residence in Giverny. In this series of paintings, Monet seamlessly depicts how light, water, and color play with one another in the water and produces a relaxing scene that allows its viewers to escape their day-to-day lives. The amount of detail in the paintings are also very telling of how much love Monet poured not only for each panel, but also for the very garden that was the inspiration for them, which he cultivated himself.

6. Henri Rousseau, The Dream

Located at: Floor 5, 503, The Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries

A completely self-taught painter, Rousseau’s The Dream encapsulates his distinct art style: bold colors that many deemed almost childlike paired with a smooth finish. Though he never left Paris, he produced an extremely realistic yet surreal jungle setting that makes you feel as if you’re experiencing a fever dream by using scenes he obtained from visits to the Paris Museum of Natural History and magazines in the library. The naked woman on the left lounging comfortably on a red sofa, as if she wasn’t naked and surrounded by a moonlit jungle filled with wild animals, further emphasizes the painting’s dreamlike quality. 

If you’ve got the time, it is recommended to listen to the audio guide during your visit. Available in 10 different languages, you’ll get to listen to many different artists and curators talk not only about the individual pieces in the museum, but also the museum itself. You can access the audio guides directly from your mobile phone by visiting the audio page of the MoMA website and entering the corresponding audio ID for a particular exhibit, which is indicated in its label.

Audio devices are also available at the museum.

You can choose from a curated selection of restaurants and cafes for your visit, with each having different types of cuisines and amenities.

Want dinner at the MoMA after an entire day of art? Visit The Bar to enjoy a delicious meal in a cozy environment, where you’ll get to treat yourself to scrumptious dishes such as you talk about your latest finds at the museum. Reservations are accepted up to 7 days in advance.

Offering rustic Italian dishes such as handmade pasta, paninis, and artisanal cheeses, Café 2 is ideal for a quick bite to refuel as you make your way from one gallery to another. The café also serves a selection of beverages such as espresso and coffee to accompany your meal, as well as wines and beers should you wish to dine longer.

Should the weather permit, we recommend dining outdoors at Terrace Café! Choose from both sweet and savory plates and pair them with a variety of cocktails, beers, wines, or nonalcoholic beverages.