When visiting New York, plan your trip to accommodate either or both of the museums—MoMA or Guggenheim.
Both museums are a must-see if you are a modern art fan.
However, selecting a museum requires several considerations, such as your allotted time, expense limits, area of interest, and creative focus.
In this post, we have briefly reviewed Guggenheim vs MoMA to facilitate your decision-making.
Brief Introduction of MoMA and the Guggenheim Museum
With collections spanning more than 120 years, the Museum of Modern Art or MoMA, was established in 1929 and is devoted to modern and contemporary art.
The Guggenheim Museum opened in 1959 to display radicality in modern art.
They are both situated 2 miles (3 km) apart in the center of Manhattan.
MoMA vs Guggenheim – Our Recommendation
Tourists who wish to enjoy modern art are always in a dilemma between MoMA and the Guggenheim.
We suggest that you go to both the Guggenheim and MoMA.
You can get a closer, more in-depth look at museums’ modern and contemporary art collections.
Visit MoMA to delve into more profound contemporary works of art and the Guggenheim to see the radicalized forms of modern art and architecture.
Ultimately, you decide to choose MoMA over Guggenheim or otherwise.
MoMA vs Guggenheim – Ticket Prices
The entrance fees to MoMA and The Guggenheim museums are almost the same.
To enter the museum with a MoMA entry ticket, adults (17 to 64 years old) pay $30, seniors (65+ years) pay $20, and students (with ID) pay $17.
Children aged 16 years and below get free entry to MoMA.
On every first Friday of the month, citizens of New York City get free entry to MoMA from 4 pm to 8 pm.
For a Guggenheim entry ticket, adults (12 to 64 years) pay $30, and senior citizens (65+ years) pay $19.
Entry to the Guggenheim Museum is free for kids under 12.
The Guggenheim Museum offers a “pay what you wish” option on Saturdays between 5 pm to 8 pm.
If you plan to visit both modern art museums, Take a MoMA + Guggenheim combo ticket for $52.
MoMA vs Guggenheim: Which is More Famous?
The popularity of a museum depends on multiple factors, such as the collections on display, the art preferences of visitors, and the style and masterpieces.
MoMA provides a comprehensive view of modern art history, showcasing modern classics with paintings, sculptures, photography and films.
Guggenheim displays its unique architectural feat and the collection of abstract, avant-garde pieces that need self-interpretation at every level.
You see traditional galleries at MoMA, while Guggenheim has a spiraling ramp that connects different levels.
However, few people are comfortable with revolutionary concepts, so MoMA’s conventional collections make it famous.
Which Museum has a Better Art Collection: Guggenheim or MoMA
Regarding modern art collections, the Museum of Modern Arts has more to offer than the Guggenheim.
MoMA’s collection includes many paintings, sculptures, photography, films and other works that portray the outlook of famous artists.
You witness iconic works of artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, Warhol, Monet, Pollack, and Rousseau and explore art’s evolution from the late 19th century to the present.
Such displays attract a lot of visitors who admire the stunning beauty.
The Guggenheim Museum, on the other hand, includes artworks from the late 20th century and early 21st century and its architectural brilliance itself.
It houses works of artists like Kandinsky, Louise Bourgeois, Gauguin, and William Kentridge.
Regarding the collection of artworks, MoMA’s vast collection of contemporary art makes it the winner.
Modern and Contemporary Art Collection
Both museums have significant collections of modern and contemporary art in their exhibitions.
The MoMA focuses only on such collections, with more than 200,000 artworks in paintings, sculptures, photographs, film, performance and architectural artifacts.
In contrast, the Guggenheim has an art collection of about 8000 artworks by several artists.
Masterpieces at MoMA
A few masterpieces at MoMA include:
- Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh
- Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso
- Campbell’s Soup Cans by Andy Warhol
- The Sleeping Gypsy by Henri Rousseau
- Number 31 by Jackson Pollock
Masterpieces at Guggenheim
The Guggenheim Museum has some of the postmodernist collections like:
- “The Puppy” by Jeff Koon
- “Untitled” by Mark Rothko
- “A Matter of Time” by Richard Serra
- “Sylvette” by Pablo Picasso
- “Village Behind Trees” by Paul Cezanne
Overall on Collections
MoMA and the Guggenheim showcase some of the most incredible modern and contemporary art in their unique styles for modern art lovers and new visitors.
With masterpieces by well-known painters, including Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, Matisse, Kahlo and Warhol, MoMA is home to a significant contemporary art collection.
You see varied forms of manifestation of art through the enormous works presented by artists that evoke the present times.
The importance given to permanent exhibits over various temporary exhibits plays an essential role in choosing MoMA over Guggenheim.
Though the Guggenheim still displays modern and contemporary art, it has a smaller collection and the art forms are more abstract and radicalized.
The museum prefers to use more of its gallery space for temporary shows than its ongoing collection.
Therefore, the Museum of Modern Art is a superior option when comparing the collections of modern art at the Guggenheim Museum and MoMA.
MoMA or Guggenheim – Which Museum Has the Best Features?
We discuss some of the service features provided by the museums to find out the best:
Audio guides
MoMA and Guggenheim offer audio tours to visitors to help them navigate the museums easily.
Available in around ten languages, the audio tours are a feature that welcomes visitors with or without impairments.
The MoMA audio guides’ guided, interactive visualization experiences inspire listeners’ creative instincts.
Guggenheim has audio and ASL video guides for deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors.
Restaurants and Cafe
MoMA has four dining options, including the fine dining Michelin-star restaurant The Modern and Cafe 2, Terrace Cafe and Espresso Bar.
On the other hand, Café Rebay overlooks Central Park and is a casual cafe in Guggenheim.
Regarding dining or eating options, MoMA has far more options and varieties than Guggenheim.
Kid-friendly Programs
Kid-friendly activities and events at both museums cater to young visitors and families.
Special educational and interactive sessions encourage them to engage in art and creativity.
Map
A MoMA museum map provides easy navigation across the museum building.
The Guggenheim map can confuse visitors with its representation and exact location of services inside the uniquely structured building.
Both museums provide shops within their buildings where visitors can purchase various items as souvenirs or for research purposes.
MoMA and Guggenheim go hand in hand with their features and services, but they have a few differences, like eating options and map and audio guide designs.
MoMA vs Guggenheim – Building
The architecture of each museum building reflects the conceptual representation inside.
MoMA’s sleek, contemporary design complements the neighboring midtown Manhattan skyline.
Constructed in 1929, it perfectly reflects the modernity of the time and the area.
The Guggenheim Museum was inaugurated in 1959 by Frank Lloyd Wright to display radicality in art.
Its unique design represents modernity with the cutting-edge design of the spiraling ramp reaching the glass-dome ceiling.
The unconventional building technique contrasts with Manhattan’s urban view.
Therefore, the Guggenheim Museum’s building architecture is an art piece that wins over MoMA’s facade.
MoMA vs Guggenheim – Which Museum Holds the Best Temporary Exhibitions?
Museums introduce new and upcoming talents by presenting them through temporary exhibitions.
MoMA has temporary exhibitions where they launch new artists, and their work is available for all museum visitors.
However, the percentage of such artwork is less compared to the permanent exhibits they possess.
Instead, the Guggenheim Museum devotes between 80 to 90% of its gallery area to temporary exhibits.
In this way, art enthusiasts get a fresh perspective through the exhibition of emerging artists and their works.
Therefore, the Guggenheim should be your preferred place if you focus on upcoming talents.
MoMA vs Guggenheim – Outdoor Spaces
The Sculpture Garden on MoMA’s ground floor is a piece of fresh air amidst the densely constructed modern Manhattan buildings.
This area has many exhibits that change occasionally, depending on the exhibit schedule.
The Modern Bar Room offers a tranquil view of MoMA’s Sculpture Garden.
The structure is magnificent, but the Guggenheim Museum doesn’t have an open-air space.
However, the museum’s high ceiling and dome design give the building a broadness and height.
MoMA vs Guggenheim – Opening hours
When choosing a museum, the duration of the tour, opening hours, and ideal times to visit are all essential considerations.
The hours of operation at the Museum of Modern Arts are 10.30 am to 5.30 pm, with an extension to 7 pm on Saturdays.
For New Yorkers, admission is free every month on the first Friday from 4 pm to 8 pm.
Members get early access from 9.30 am to 10.30 am on weekends.
The Guggenheim Museum is open from 11 am to 6 pm and extends till 8 pm on Saturdays.
Members’ hours are on selected Mondays from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Therefore, it is best to visit MoMA first to begin your museum tour early in the morning, as the museum gets busy by midday.
A detailed MoMA tour takes two to three hours, whereas you can cover the Guggenheim Museum within two hours.
If you plan your itinerary well, you can cover both museums on the same day.
MoMA vs Guggenheim – Expected Crowd
When it comes to visitor counts, MoMA and Guggenheim Museum are both quite popular in the domain of modern art.
While MoMA focuses on modern and contemporary collections, the Guggenheim Museum radicalizes modernism.
For modern art lovers, the museums have their share of popularity for their exhibition collections.
However, even though MoMA is smaller and gets crowded, the Guggenheim draws quite some crowd for its 20th-century architectural feat.
Final Verdict: MoMA or Guggenheim
After exploring multiple factors for visiting a museum, we emphasize how personal preference and time play crucial roles.
MoMA presents the chronological evolution of contemporary art in a conventional museum setting.
Its comprehensive modern and contemporary art collection, ranging from paintings, film, photography, design, and sculpture, attracts many more visitors with similar outlooks.
The Guggenheim Museum represents avant-garde art forms that are often abstract, radicalized and challenging traditional artistic forms.
Through its novel architectural brilliance and its showcase of upcoming art forms, this can often be a less-preferred choice for traditional art lovers.
Time is another factor that listens to none.
If you aim for an all-around tour within a tight New York City itinerary, MoMA is a better option for seeing modern and contemporary art; the Guggenheim is faster but less extensive.
Contents
FAQs About Guggenheim vs MET
1. What is the main focus of MoMA’s collection compared to the Guggenheim?
MoMA focuses on modern art in a traditional setup with chronological evolution from 1880 to the present, including paintings, sculpture, photography, films etc.
The Guggenheim’s primary focus is on its unique building architecture and avant-garde modern art, primarily non-conventional forms.
It provides upcoming talented artists with more opportunities for their art forms through temporary exhibitions.
2. Is there more artwork or empty space inside the Guggenheim and MoMA?
The Guggenheim features a small permanent collection of artworks and a large area devoted to its distinctive building architecture.
On the other hand, MoMA is a simple building structure with compact and maximum space utilization for its exhibits.
3. How does the architectural design differ between MoMA and the Guggenheim?
The architecture of MoMA blends in with the cityscape, giving it a more conventional museum feel and complementing its surroundings.
The Guggenheim Museum contrasts with the Manhattan grid of buildings with its unique spiral architecture and continuous ramp design.
4. Should I visit Guggenheim or MoMA?
Your art preference and time allotted are essential in deciding which museum to visit.
However, for an extensive and all-around modern art experience, MoMA is a better option than Guggenheim’s non-conventional art forms.
5. How does the Guggenheim cater to traditional art lovers compared to MoMA?
The Guggenheim Museum has specific artworks of the 20th century that focus on traditional art forms.
Still, they may be less popular with classic art enthusiasts because they emphasize abstract and avant-garde art.
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