Museum of Modern Art

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) (51395759113)

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USA-The Museum of Modern Art

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USA-Museum of Modern Art

MoMA Museum shop (1) 2021 jeh

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MULTIPLICITY OF IDENTITIES IN THE MOMA’S COLLECTION

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is a pioneering institution located in New York City, dedicated to the role of being one of the largest and most influential museums of modern art in the world. Founded in 1929 by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, Lillie P. Bliss, and Mary Quinn Sullivan, MoMA has played a critical role in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as one of the most important museums of modern art in the world.

History

The Museum of Modern Art was established with the primary goal of helping people understand and appreciate the visual arts of the time. The museum's collection has grown to include over 150,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, architectural models and drawings, and design objects; as well as 22,000 films and 4 million film stills. The MoMA library includes approximately 300,000 books and exhibition catalogs, over 1,000 periodical titles, and over 40,000 files of ephemera about individual artists and groups.

Architecture

The MoMA's building has undergone several renovations and expansions since its inception to accommodate its growing collections and to enhance its role as a cultural hub. The most recent expansion, completed in 2019, was designed by the architectural firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler, enhancing the museum's gallery space and reimagining its presentation of modern and contemporary art.

Collections

MoMA's collections offer a comprehensive overview of modern and contemporary art, including works of architecture and design, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, prints, illustrated books, film, and electronic media. The museum is home to many iconic works, including Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night, Pablo Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, and Salvador Dalí's The Persistence of Memory.

Exhibitions and Programs

The Museum of Modern Art organizes a wide range of exhibitions, from comprehensive retrospectives of artists to thematic shows exploring significant aspects of modern and contemporary art. MoMA also offers an array of educational programs, including lectures, workshops, and film screenings, aimed at engaging diverse audiences with modern art.

Impact and Criticism

MoMA has been both praised for its dedication to modern art and criticized for various reasons, including its approach to collecting and presenting art from a predominantly Western perspective. Despite this, the museum continues to play a significant role in the art world, influencing art collecting, exhibition practices, and the understanding of modern and contemporary art.

See Also

• List of modern art museums
• Art museum
• Contemporary art