Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Review

Frank Lloyd Wright's landmark nautilus-like museum building is renowned as much for its famous architecture as for its superlative collection of art and its well-curated shows. Opened in 1959, shortly after Wright's death, the Guggenheim is acclaimed as one of the greatest buildings of the 20th century. Inside, under a 92-foot-high glass dome, a ramp spirals down past the artworks of the current exhibits (the ramp is just over a quarter mile long, if you're wondering). The museum has strong holdings of Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, and Robert Mapplethorpe.

Highlights

Wright's design was criticized by some who believed that the distinctive building detracted from the art within, but the interior nautilus design allows artworks to be viewed from several different angles and distances. Be sure to notice not only what's in front of you but also what's across the spiral from you.

Even if you aren't planning to eat, stop at the museum's modern American restaurant, the Wright, for its stunning design created by Andre Kikoski.

On permanent display, the museum's Thannhauser Collection is made up primarily of works by French impressionists and postimpressionists van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Cézanne, and Matisse. Perhaps more than any other 20th-century painter, Wassily Kandinsky, one of the first "pure" abstract artists, has been closely linked to the museum's history: beginning with the acquisition of his masterpiece Composition 8 (1923) in 1930, the collection has grown to encompass more than 150 works.

Tips

Gallery talks provide richer understanding of the masterpieces in front of you. Tours are included in your admission fee, so be sure to take advantage.

The museum often runs special programs—including lectures, conversations, and film screenings—in conjunction with major exhibitions. Check the Public Programs page on the museum's website for details of upcoming events.

Take it from the top: Escape the crowded lobby and keep your legs fresh for the rest of the museum by taking the elevator to the top and working your way down the spiral.

The museum is pay-what-you-wish on Saturday from 5:45 to 7:45. Lines can be long, so arrive early. The last tickets are handed out at 7:15.

Eat before you visit; restaurants on Lexington Avenue offer more varied fare than the museum's small Café 3 espresso and snack bar on the third floor.