21. The Museum of Modern Art

MoMA is an art museum in mid-town Manhattan - that from the outside looks like just an ordinary office block ... however, once inside you realise that this place is far from "ordinary".

It's history goes back to the 1920's and involves the Rockefeller family and friends who at the time were the makers and shakers of not only the art world, but much of New York life.
Back then the museum gained instant fame as America's premier museum devoted exclusively to modern art, and the first of its kind in Manhattan to exhibit European modernism. Over the years the Museum collection has expanded and been housed in several sites across Manhattan - the present day museum was officially opened in 2006.

There are six levels in the building - all opening onto a central well - and looking out onto a large courtyard ... each level houses several separate galleries devoted to 'modern day' artists.

Three Women - Fernand Leger - French - 1921 

 

 

I see again in memory of my dear Udnie - Francis Picabia - French - 1913

Christina's World - Andrew Wyeth - USA - 1948

 

The Bather - Pablo Picasso - Spain - 1905

 

The wonderful Manhattan skyline from within the museum

 

Dynamism of a Soccer Player - Umberto Boccioni - Italian - 1913

 

 

Revolving - Kurt Schwitters - German - 1913

 

Dance (I) - Henri Matisse - French - 1909 

The Propitious Garden of Plane Image - Brice Marden - USA - 2000

 

Zapabistas - Jose Clemente Orozco - Mexican - 1931

 

Girl Before a Mirror - Pablo Picasso - Spanish - 1932

 

Fulang-Chang and I - Frida Kahlo - Mexican - 1937

 

Les Demoiselles D'Avignon - Pablo Picasso - Spanish - 1907

 

Head of a Warrior - Pablo Picasso - Spanish - 1903

 

Composition #11 - with Red and Blue - Piet Mondrian - Dutch - 1929

 

Water Lilies - Claude Monet - French - 1914 

... again - from the other end ...

 



Agapanthus - Claude Monet - French - 1914

 

Three Women at the Spring - Pablo Picasso - Spanish - 1921

 

Reclining Nude - Amedeo Modigliani - Italian - 1919

 

Tete - Amedeo Modigliani - Italian - 1919

 

Samovar - Kazimir Malevich - Russian - 1913

 

Birds Erect - Henri Gaudier-Brzeska - French - 1914

 

Male Model - Henri Matisse - French - 1901

 

Turning Road - Paul Cezanne - French - 1898

 

The Bather - Paul Cezanne - French - 1885

 

Port en Bessen - George-Pierre Seurat - French - 1888

 

Still Life with Apples - Paul Cezanne - French - 1898

 

One: Number 31 - 1950 - Jackson Pollock - USA - 1950

 

Live's - Gilbert and George - UK - 1984

 

New Shelton Wet/Dry Doubledecker - Jeff Koons - USA - 1981

 

 

... and so much more besides 

... I haven't even shown you the artworks that didn't impress me !!! ...

 

And tomorrow - if it's a nice day - I'll take you out on the bay ...