New York City’s countless splendours attract tourists in their millions each year. From iconic sights like Times Square and also the Statue of Liberty to atmospheric NYC neighbourhoods such as Greenwich Village, Soho and Manhattan’s Theatre District, almost always there is something to do or see in New York City!
But among the city’s most prominent offerings is without a doubt its art scene. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art and also the Guggenheim Museum towards the Whitney Museum of yankee Art, art enthusiasts will be capable of finding a remarkable gallery in which they can revel. But perhaps the most well-known of New York’s array of museums may be the Museum of Modern Art – affectionately known as MOMA.
Having opened in 1929 with only eight paintings and a drawing, MOMA has expanded over the years to encompass probably the most impressive collections of modern art. MOMA’s current 100,000-piece collection is comprised of a few of the world’s most renowned modern art pieces, including works by iconic American painters Edward Hopper, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol. Visitors can also set eyes on some of the most celebrated international art pieces on the planet, including ‘The Starry Night’ by Vincent van Gogh, Salvador Dali’s ‘The Persistence of Memory’ and Frida Kahlo’s ‘Self Portrait with Cropped Hair’. Furthermore, MOMA’s photography collection is among the most prominent anywhere, hosting works by important photographers like Cindy Sherman and Andreas Gursky.
But MOMA has retained its importance for more than just fantastic art. The museum’s intriguing architectural landscape and arrangement will also be accountable for its acclaim. When MOMA first opened in 1929, it had been situated on 5th Avenue – on the website of the items is now the Empire State Building; and within the year, the museum had already stood in three separate locations. However, in 1931, it was moved to its current site, between 5th and 6th Avenue.
Between 2002 and 2004, MOMA was closed for renovation while its building was re-designed by Yoshio Taniguchi. Taniguchi may be the celebrated Japanese architect, also accountable for Tokyo’s Nagano Prefectural Museum and also the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures in the Tokyo National Museum. When MOMA was re-opened in November 2004, Taniguchi’s redesign was initially confronted with controversy; however, it’s since been upheld as a bold example of contemporary architecture – making MOMA not just among New York’s most intriguing landmarks, but additionally a bit of structural art that visitors can also enjoy.