Must-Visit Museums for Modern and Contemporary Art Enthusiasts
As an art lover, I make it a point to visit museums whenever I travel, especially those featuring modern and contemporary works. If you share this interest, you’ll find a short list of museums in this article that might appeal to you.
1. Stedelijke museum, Amsterdam
This museum has a name I can’t quite pronounce, but it’s definitely one of my favorites. I visited in 2022 and was immediately drawn to how the artworks are displayed in the permanent collection. Each room is dedicated to a specific theme, with carefully selected pieces that fit perfectly. It might sound trivial, but I’m not a fan of exhibits where it’s hard to understand the connection between the artworks, even if they’re masterpieces. In this museum, everything is clear, and each room explores a completely different theme. For instance, there’s a space devoted to demonstrations and another focused on the concept of the body. The artwork selection is thoughtful and diverse, which makes the visit even more engaging and thought-provoking. You’ll find works by Piet Mondrian, Man Ray, Niki de Saint Phalle, Marina Abramovic, and many others.
Plus, the museum has a fantastic bookstore, with an impressive range of amazing books.
When I was there, a massive room was covered from floor to ceiling with Barbara Kruger’s piece titled Past / Present / Future, and seeing her work in person — especially in such a gigantic form — was incredible!
2. C/O Berlin
When I visited Berlin in 2018, I spent five days exploring the city and managed to visit four museums. I enjoyed most of them, but one stood out in particular: C/O Berlin. This museum is dedicated to photography and visual media. I hadn’t checked the program in advance, and I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived. There were several exhibitions covering different themes, featuring both well-known artists and some who were a bit more under the radar.
What I loved most was that they were showcasing a work I had heard about many times but had never seen in person: The Brown Sisters by Nicholas Nixon. Since 1975, Nixon has been taking annual portraits of four sisters, and seeing the evolution of both the women and the photos was fascinating. The photos were presented in a way that allowed you to see the progression of both the sisters and the photographic style over time.
Even though the images are always black and white and have a simple composition, the small shifts in the way they’re captured are remarkable. It was such a thrill to finally see this iconic work in person!
This exhibition definitely ranked among the best I’ve ever seen, and it’s one of the reasons I love this place: it not only presents famous works you might not always have the chance to see in person, but it also offers emerging artists a platform to showcase their work, giving them a valuable opportunity in their careers.
3. MoMA, New York City
I visited New York in 2023 for a week, and for those of you who’ve been to this city, you know that one week isn’t nearly enough to explore it all. However, I definitely wanted to spend some of that time at the MoMA (spoiler alert: I didn’t manage to see everything there!). I went there with my sister, and when we arrived, we discovered that each floor was dedicated to a specific era. Since we didn’t have much time, we decided to focus on the floors dedicated to Modern and Contemporary art (yes, I know, a bit of an obvious choice). Similar to the Stedelijk Museum, the MoMA’s spaces are organized by themes, but in my memory, it’s a little less clear-cut than at the Stedelijk. This is mostly because the galleries are also grouped according to art movements.
4. Tate Modern, London
The Tate Modern is one of my favorite museums to visit when I’m in London. One of the main reasons I love it is the building itself. It’s a former power station, and the architects (Herzog & de Meuron) preserved much of its industrial character. When you step inside, you’re greeted by the vast Turbine Hall, which is truly impressive and often features monumental installations. The last time I visited, in November 2024, there was an installation by Mire Lee called Open Wound. It was a great choice for the space, as the piece resembled a kind of machine (a motor), yet its components also evoked organic shapes. It moved slowly, and I remember being completely fascinated by it.
As for the temporary exhibitions, I found them a bit chaotic, but they still showcase incredible masterpieces by artists like Lee Krasner, Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso, and others. I especially appreciated the room dedicated to the Guerrilla Girls, as it really highlighted their work and objectives well.
The Tate Modern also has a fantastic bookstore, and I always end up buying at least one book there during my visit. I honestly think people should always check out museum bookstores — they often have hidden gems that are hard to find elsewhere.
5. The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh
This museum is split into two sections: Modern Art One and Modern Art Two. The first one mainly showcases classic modern art, and it’s really impressive. The space is well-organized and has a lovely view of a beautiful green area. The second section focuses on contemporary art. When I visited last year, the temporary exhibition was Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970–1990. As both a feminist and an art lover, I was completely captivated by this exhibit. It took up several rooms, making it both thorough and diverse. You could see how different artists approached and fought in their own unique ways, and how relevant it still is today. I’ve only visited this museum once, but based on their website, I’m pretty sure they regularly host incredible exhibitions.
And that’s it for this list! I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to share with me the museums you love.
