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Travel tips

Museums for modern art lovers

Apr 15, 2014 by The Go Ahead Tours Team

When artists turned away from tradition to experiment with more expressive colors and innovative techniques in the 19th century, the modern art movement was born. Today, there are many museums full of bold, original pieces of artwork around the world. Check out these five modern art museums at the top of our must-visit list.

Tate Modern

London, England

Tate Modern

More than 40 million people have visited the Tate Modern since it opened its doors in May of 2000. The gallery is in the former Bankside Power Station, located on the southern bank of the River Thames. Housing international modern and contemporary art, the Tate is a can’t-miss stop in London.

Centre Pompidou

Paris, France

Centre Pompidou

With its wild design and modern architecture, the Centre Pompidou stands in stark contrast to the nearby Louvre and Musée d’Orsay. This unique building holds France’s National Museum of Modern Art on its fourth and fifth floors. Cubism, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism are just a few of the movements represented in this huge collection of modern artwork.

Museum of Contemporary Art

Sydney, Australia

Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art

Photo by Tristan Davey (Townsville, Australia)

A visit to Sydney Harbor isn’t complete without a stop at the Museum of Contemporary Art. 
Dedicated to exhibiting, collecting and interpreting contemporary art, this recently refurbished museum features work from Australia, the Asia Pacific region and around the world. It even has its own mobile app that shares inside stories about the exhibitions and lets you create your own online gallery.

Stedelijk Museum

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Stedelijk Museum

Photo by G.Lanting

With works from Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock and more, the Stedelijk Museum is the largest museum for modern and contemporary art in the Netherlands. Since opening in 1895, it’s featured thousands of paintings, sculptures, photographs and design objects. Recently renovated in 2012, it sits facing the public lawn of the Museumplein, Amsterdam’s Museum Plaza.

Museum of Modern Art

New York City, USA

MoMA

Photo by Alex Proimos

This midtown Manhattan museum is the place to go to get inspired. The Museum of Modern Art has been fueling creativity with its world-renowned, extensive modern art collection since 1929. It’s home to many celebrated pieces of work, including Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night” and Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies.”

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About the author | The Go Ahead Tours Team
We’re a team of passionate travel experts, dedicated to helping people explore the world. From inspiring stories to tips for an amazing trip, the topics we cover are all about getting you out there and making discoveries.

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