Introduction
Art is a complicated and utterly subjective topic. There’s no right or wrong answers, and the value of pieces is totally determined by what the Art Community deems has enough prestige and meaning to warrant a significant price tag. With that, there’s no shortage of significant art pieces across the US, and if you’re in the mood for a little culture, you’ve come to the right place. Below are a few must-see Art galleries and Museums with legendary and thought provoking offerings.
Art Institute of Chicago
Dubbed as Chicago’s top Downtown Museum, the Art institute of Chicago tops TripAdvisors’ rankings, and for good reason – the AIC houses pieces like Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist and Grant Wood’s American Gothic. The Art Institute prides itself on its diverse, ever-moving collection that grabs a bit from every corner and cranny of life. Its year-round collection boasts more than 300,000 pieces – a seemingly astronomical number of art to look at. Maybe it requires two visits. Or three.
Museum of Modern Art – New York
The Museum of Modern Art in New York, or MOMA, is perhaps the most influential modern art curator in the world. Designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, Edward Durell Stone, and Philip Goodwin, the building is itself a piece of art. And on the inside, they offer over 200,000 pieces of breathtaking paintings and pieces. Their website offers 89,000 pieces for your visual viewing pleasure. Perfect in the age of COVID!
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art truly represents freedom. Nearly 800,000 people visited the museum in 2017, making it an incredibly popular attraction with pieces ranging from European, to Asian, to American origin. Tickets range from 14 dollars to 25 dollars, and the first Sunday of the month and every Wednesday night are ‘Pay What You Wish’ times, meaning you may pay whatever you want to enter. Even if you can only spare a dollar, the Philly Museum of Art wants to see you! As they put it, Pay-What-You-Wish is a program that encourages Art viewing for everyone.
Conclusion
Art, at its core, is one of society’s most moving ways to express individuality. Luckily, the Museums listed above offer a taste of the past, present, and even a glimpse into the future of both art and society as a whole. From paintings to sculptures to abstract, expressionist pieces, don’t miss out on these places. Even if they do remind you of fourth grade field trips.