MoMA: Must-See Paintings & Visitor Guide (2026)

The Museum of Modern Art in midtown Manhattan is the most influential modern art museum in the world. Founded in 1929 by three visionary patrons, Lillie P. Bliss, Mary Quinn Sullivan, and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, MoMA established the template for how modern art is collected, exhibited, and understood. Its collection of over two hundred thousand works spans painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, design, film, and media from the 1880s to the present. A major renovation and expansion completed in 2019 added forty thousand square feet of gallery space and reimagined the visitor experience. This guide highlights the essential paintings, explains the redesigned layout, and provides the practical details you need for a rewarding visit.

Why MoMA Is Unmissable

MoMA's collection reads like a textbook of modern art history. Van Gogh's The Starry Night, Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Monet's Water Lilies, Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans, and Klimt's Hope II are just a handful of the iconic works on permanent display. The museum owns in depth across virtually every major movement of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, from Post-Impressionism and Cubism through Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism, and contemporary practice.

The 2019 expansion by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler transformed MoMA's galleries and philosophy. The new layout integrates painting and sculpture with photography, design, film, and architecture throughout the building rather than separating them by medium. This cross-disciplinary approach reflects how artists actually work and creates rich, unexpected connections between works. The galleries are rehung on a rotating basis, ensuring that even repeat visitors encounter fresh juxtapositions.

Beyond the permanent collection, MoMA maintains an ambitious program of temporary exhibitions, film screenings, and performances. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden, designed by Philip Johnson and recently restored, provides a tranquil outdoor respite in the heart of Midtown. The museum's design store, spanning two retail locations, is a destination in itself for lovers of modern design.

Must-See Paintings at MoMA

MoMA's painting collection is unrivaled in its concentration of modern masterpieces. The following works are cornerstones of the collection, though their exact locations may shift as the museum continues its practice of periodic rehangings.

1. The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh (1889)

Painted from Van Gogh's room at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, The Starry Night depicts a swirling night sky over a quiet village with a prominent cypress tree in the foreground. The turbulent spirals of the sky, the glowing crescent moon and stars, and the thick, rhythmic brushwork make this one of the most recognizable paintings in the world. Van Gogh considered it a failure; today it is MoMA's single most popular work. Displayed on the fifth floor, it draws a constant stream of visitors.

2. Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Pablo Picasso (1907)

This revolutionary painting depicts five nude women in a brothel, their bodies fractured into angular, geometric planes and their faces influenced by Iberian sculpture and African masks. When Picasso first showed it to friends in his studio, even his closest allies were horrified. It broke every convention of perspective, anatomy, and beauty that had governed Western painting since the Renaissance. Art historians consider it the single most important painting of the twentieth century and the catalyst for Cubism. It is displayed on the fifth floor.

3. Campbell's Soup Cans by Andy Warhol (1962)

Warhol's set of thirty-two canvases, each depicting a different variety of Campbell's condensed soup, is the defining work of Pop Art. First exhibited at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles in 1962, the paintings challenged every assumption about what constituted fine art by elevating a mass-produced consumer product to the status of a portrait or landscape. MoMA displays all thirty-two canvases in a grid that mirrors a supermarket shelf, transforming the gallery into a commentary on American consumer culture.

4. Water Lilies by Claude Monet (1914-1926)

MoMA's Water Lilies triptych is one of the great immersive experiences in the museum. Three enormous canvases wrap around the walls, plunging the viewer into Monet's garden pond at Giverny. Painted in the last decade of his life as his eyesight failed, these late works dissolve representation into shimmering fields of color that anticipate abstract painting. The scale, the enveloping installation, and the delicacy of the color harmonies make this room a destination in itself.

5. The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali (1931)

Dali's small but unforgettable painting of melting watches draped over a barren landscape is one of the most iconic images of Surrealism. The drooping timepieces, the distorted self-portrait face, and the eerie Port Lligat coastline create a dreamscape of irrational precision. Despite measuring only about ten by thirteen inches, the painting stops visitors in their tracks with its hallucinatory clarity. It is among the most photographed works at MoMA.

6. Girl Before a Mirror by Pablo Picasso (1932)

This vivid painting shows Picasso's mistress Marie-Thérèse Walter gazing at her reflection in a mirror, her figure rendered in bold, flat patterns of lavender, yellow, and green. The mirror reflection distorts and darkens her image, suggesting hidden psychological depths. The painting is a tour de force of Picasso's decorative style of the early 1930s and one of his most colorful and accessible works. It was a gift to MoMA from Mrs. Simon Guggenheim in 1938.

7. Broadway Boogie Woogie by Piet Mondrian (1942-1943)

Mondrian's final completed painting translates the rhythm of New York City's grid plan and the syncopation of boogie-woogie jazz into a pulsating composition of colored squares and rectangles. Unlike his earlier spare black-grid paintings, this work bursts with small blocks of red, blue, and yellow that dance along intersecting lines, evoking the energy of Manhattan's streets and the music Mondrian loved. It represents the culmination of the artist's lifelong pursuit of pure abstraction.

8. Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth (1948)

Wyeth's painting of a young woman crawling across a brown field toward a distant farmhouse is one of the most famous American paintings of the twentieth century. The figure is Christina Olson, Wyeth's neighbor in Cushing, Maine, who was paralyzed from the waist down. The vast, empty landscape, the isolation of the figure, and the tension between the body's vulnerability and the house's distance create an image of haunting American solitude. The painting is displayed on the fifth floor.

9. One: Number 31, 1950 by Jackson Pollock (1950)

This monumental drip painting, over seventeen feet wide, is the largest and most ambitious of Pollock's poured works. Skeins of black, white, and gray paint loop and tangle across the unprimed canvas in a composition of astonishing energy and complexity. Made at the peak of Pollock's powers, it embodies the scale, ambition, and physical intensity of Abstract Expressionism. Standing before it, you feel the artist's bodily movement recorded in every arc and splatter of paint.

10. Gold Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol (1962)

Warhol's silkscreen of Marilyn Monroe's face floats against a vast gold background, evoking Byzantine icons and Hollywood glamour simultaneously. Created shortly after Monroe's death, the painting transforms the actress into a religious relic for the age of mass media. The gold field, the off-register printing, and the garish makeup colors reduce the human face to a logo. It hangs near other Warhol works and is one of the most photographed paintings at MoMA.

Gallery Guide: Navigating MoMA

Fifth Floor: 1880s-1940s

The fifth floor houses the core of MoMA's historical collection, from Post-Impressionism through Surrealism and early abstraction. This is where you will find The Starry Night, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, The Persistence of Memory, and major works by Matisse, Mondrian, and the Cubists. The galleries are arranged roughly chronologically, tracing the revolutionary developments of early modernism. This floor is the most popular and busiest, so arrive early or visit late in the day.

Fourth Floor: 1940s-1970s

The fourth floor covers the postwar period, with strong representation of Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and Minimalism. Pollock's drip paintings, de Kooning's Women series, Rothko's color fields, and Warhol's Pop works are typically displayed here alongside sculpture by David Smith and Donald Judd. The integration of design objects and photographs with paintings creates a rich picture of midcentury creative culture.

Second and Third Floors: Contemporary and Rotating Exhibitions

The lower gallery floors feature more contemporary work and rotating installations that change several times a year. These floors showcase MoMA's commitment to representing art from around the world and across media, including video, installation, and performance documentation. Major temporary exhibitions are also mounted on these floors. Check the MoMA website for current displays.

First Floor and Sculpture Garden

The ground level includes the lobby galleries, the museum store, and access to the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. The garden features works by Picasso, Rodin, and other major sculptors in a serene outdoor setting designed by Philip Johnson. It is a wonderful place to rest during your visit, especially in warmer months. The museum's restaurants and cafes are also accessible from the first floor.

Visitor Tips for MoMA in 2026

• Book tickets online in advance. MoMA uses timed-entry tickets to manage capacity. Peak times, especially weekends and holidays, sell out quickly. Purchase tickets on moma.org and select a morning entry slot for the smallest crowds.
• Visit on free Friday evenings. MoMA offers free admission every Friday from 4 pm to 8 pm. These evenings are popular but festive, and the museum stays open late. Arrive by 3:30 pm to queue for entry, as capacity limits may cause waits.
• Start on the fifth floor. The fifth floor holds the most famous works and draws the largest crowds later in the day. Head directly there when you enter and work your way down. By the time you reach the fourth and third floors, you will have seen the masterpieces in relative calm.
• Download the MoMA app. The free MoMA app provides audio guides, artist interviews, and an interactive map. Combined with ArtScan for instant painting identification, you can navigate the collection without a guided tour.
• Allow at least three hours. The expanded MoMA has significantly more gallery space than before the 2019 renovation. A focused highlights tour takes two to three hours; seeing the permanent collection thoroughly requires four hours or more. Factor in time for the sculpture garden and any temporary exhibitions.

Getting to MoMA

MoMA is located on West 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Midtown Manhattan. The nearest subway stations are Fifth Avenue-53rd Street (E, M lines) and 47th-50th Streets Rockefeller Center (B, D, F, M lines), both within a two-minute walk. The museum is also a short walk from 51st Street (6 line) and Seventh Avenue (B, D, E lines). Multiple bus routes run along Fifth Avenue, Sixth Avenue, and 53rd Street.

If walking from other Midtown attractions, MoMA is a five-minute walk south from Central Park, a ten-minute walk east from Times Square, and adjacent to the shops of Fifth Avenue. Taxis and rideshare services can drop off directly on 53rd Street. There is no dedicated museum parking, but several commercial garages operate on nearby streets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are MoMA tickets in 2026?

Adult admission is 30 dollars, seniors (65 and over) pay 22 dollars, and students with valid ID pay 14 dollars. Children under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult. MoMA offers free admission every Friday from 4 to 8 pm. Members enjoy unlimited free admission and priority entry.

Is MoMA open every day?

MoMA is open seven days a week: Sunday through Friday from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm, and Saturday from 10:30 am to 7 pm. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Extended hours may apply during special events or exhibitions.

How long do you need to visit MoMA?

A highlights visit covering the fifth and fourth floors takes approximately two to three hours. To see the full permanent collection, temporary exhibitions, and the sculpture garden, budget four to five hours. The museum is air-conditioned and comfortable for extended visits.

Can you see The Starry Night at MoMA?

Yes, Van Gogh's The Starry Night is on permanent display at MoMA, typically on the fifth floor. It is the single most visited work in the museum. In rare cases it may be temporarily off view for conservation or loan, so check the MoMA website or app before your visit to confirm its location.

Is photography allowed at MoMA?

Photography without flash is permitted in the permanent collection galleries. Some temporary exhibitions may restrict photography; check signage at the entrance to each special exhibition. Tripods, selfie sticks, and flash are not allowed anywhere in the museum. Video recording for personal use is generally permitted.

Are there lockers or bag storage at MoMA?

Yes, MoMA provides free coat and bag check on the ground floor. Large bags, backpacks, and umbrellas must be checked. Small bags and purses may be carried into the galleries. There are no self-service lockers; all storage is handled by attended cloakroom staff.