NYC MoMA Collection | Art Collection at Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern art in the world. With almost 200,000 works of modern and contemporary art, this museum is a must-visit in New York. Read more about the MoMA art collection and the artists whose work can be found on a visit to this museum in the heart of Manhattan.

Media and Performance

MoMA houses time-based art dating since the 1960s. In the department, located on the third floor of The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building, you will find moving images, film installations, video, performance, motion- and sound-based works, and other works that represent time or duration.

Photography

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has a holding of more than 25,000 works of photography that has been curated since 1930. Keeping with MoMA's interdisciplinary methods, the collection includes work not only by photographers, but also by journalists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and amateurs.

MoMA Library

The Museum of Modern Art Library is a non-circulation collection of modern and contemporary art. It includes prints, painting, sculpture, architecture, drawings, design, video, film, performance, and emerging art films from 1880 to the present. It also holds a collection of photographs since 1830. There are approximately 300,000 books and exhibition logs, more than 1,000 periodic titles, and 40,000 files on artists and their groups.

The MoMA Library’s catalog is known as Dadabase. This catalog has information on all the materials available in the Library such as periodicals, books, artists’ books, pamphlet files, and more. All researchers can access the library materials by taking an appointment from the proper authorities.

Visitor Tips

• Mornings are the best time to enjoy quieter moments with iconic pieces like Van Gogh's "Starry Night" or Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon."
• You can plan your visit around specific collections to make the most of your visit to the museum. Try setting time out in the mornings for photography, afternoons for modern classics, and evenings for special exhibitions.
• Plan to allocate at least 2-3 hours to explore the vast permanent collection of the museum.
• Make the museum's map your best friend on your visit to MoMA! Use it to navigate efficiently and focus on must-see areas like the Sculpture Garden.
• Guided tours are a great resource for expert insights into the artworks.
• To fully absorb the diversity of MoMA's extensive holdings without a sensory overload, take breaks between visiting galleries.
• Make use of the free audio guide to delve deeper into the stories behind key artworks and artists.
• If you have the time, be sure to explore lesser-known areas like the Prints and Illustrated Books section for hidden gems and unique perspectives.
• Adhere to MoMA's photography policies, respect artwork, and refrain from flash photography.
• It’s a fabulous idea to end your visit with a stroll through the Sculpture Garden that offers a serene oasis amidst the bustling cityscape of New York.