Contemporary art refers to current art, although by a broader criterion it refers to all art from the contemporary era, that is, since the end of the 18th century.
If you consider yourself a fan of this type of art, you’ve reached the perfect article, where we bring you the best contemporary art museums in the world. Enjoy!
MoMa – USA
The Museum of Modern Art in New York is undoubtedly one of the most famous contemporary art museums in the world. It was built by Yoshio Taniguchi and since 1929 it has been responsible for preserving the most recognized works of modern and contemporary art.
Some of MoMA’s most famous works include Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Picasso’s The Maidens of Avignon, Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory, and other works by artists such as Pollock, Warhol and Hopper. It was the first museum to acquire the source code of a video game because it was considered art. It also has sections devoted to photography, graphic design, film and architecture.
MACBA – Spain
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona was designed by American architect Richard Meier and its facade is a real work of art. It’s worth a visit, even just to see its exterior, if you’re visiting places to see in Barcelona. Its collection includes works by artists such as Antoni Tápies, Picasso, Chillida, Joan Brossa, Warhol and Hockney.
Tate Modern – England
The British National Museum of Modern Art is not only one of the best museums of contemporary art, but also one of the most important museums in the world. It is located in the center of London, in a former power plant in Bankside, on the banks of the Thames, which makes it one of the most important places in the English capital.
It is part of the Tate group of museums, along with Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. In 2007, it was the most visited modern art museum in the world. The works are divided into Material Gestures where we find works by Monet, McCarthy or Kapoor; Poetry and Dreams with works by Chirico, Ernst, Picasso and Idea y Objeto where we find works by Carl Andre, Hewitt and Beuys. In the Sala de Las Turbinas there are temporary installations by contemporary artists.
MUAC – Mexico
The University Museum of Contemporary Art of the Autonomous University of Mexico was inaugurated in November 2008 and houses the first public collection of contemporary art in Mexico. It exhibits works by various traveling artists such as Jeremy Deller, Kentridge and the Raqs Media Collective, making it one of the must-see places in Mexico City and, without a doubt, one of the best contemporary art museums in Latin America.
Museum of Contemporary Art of the University of São Paulo – Brazil
The Museum of Contemporary Art of the University of São Paulo houses one of the most comprehensive collections of 20th century Western art, with approximately 8,000 works, making it one of the most important museums of contemporary art in the world.
It also holds works by renowned artists such as Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Wassily Kandinski, Paul Klee, Käthe Kollwitz, Wifredo Lam, Henri Laurens, Fernand Léger, Lucio Fontana, Marino Marini, Henri Matisse and Jesús Soto.
ARKEN – Denmark
The Arken Museum of Modern Art, designed by Søren Robert Lund, has a figurative and abstract architecture. It is located in Ishoj, south of Copenhagen. Its collection includes Danish and international art and houses works by artists such as Damien Hirst, Jeppe Hein, Olafur Eliasson and others. If you dare to visit it, you should also know the best places in Copenhagen.
Have you visited any of these contemporary art museums? What was your favorite? Share and comment!
