Guggenheim Museum

5/27/2007

the facade of the guggenheim has changed!

well actually it is undergoing an exterior restoration which is projected to completed by end of 2007.

the spiral layout is fantastic.
it makes the museum easy to navigate and you can be assured of not missing any corners.

seeing the art pieces in real life is different from pictures of the same artwork.
our eyes are indeed blessed by the ability to perceive depth.
something which the camera lens cannot replicate.

from the kandinsky to the fontana, they are definitely a spectacle.
pieces that caught my eye are:
yellow cow by franz marc.
spatial concept, expectations by lucio fontana.
paris through the window by marc chagall.
women with yellow hair by pablo picasso.
landscape with rain by vasily kandinsky.
and a work by giovanni sottocornola which i cannot recall the title.

all in all it was a visit worth the $12 i paid.:)
(for some reason it was not $18 as stated on the website)

and at the end of the day, dont forget to drop by the store to take home some fond memories.

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  a cool piece that changes in colour and position to the tune of music.

  a cool piece that changes in colour and position to the tune of music.
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  more hanging art, they are actually thin, clear, plastic pieces.

  more hanging art, they are actually thin, clear, plastic pieces.
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  half and half

  half and half
• See all photos from Nik T. for Guggenheim Museum

8/11/2010

Another must see in NYC. Very cool building - though I find it a bit difficult to view the art - like I'm not sure if I should ignore everything and go all the way up to the top and work down? Do I start at the bottom and work up (which is what I usually do).

They definitely have some weird stuff here, but I like it at the same time. Makes you wonder what people are thinking when they make such things.

My favorite piece I saw here (which I don't think is in their regular collection) is Damien Hirst's Armageddon. From far away it looked like screens from a window placed onto the canvas - like in waves - lots of shades of charcoal. It looked like it was moving and breathing in a way. From far away I liked it. As I got closer - turns out it was dead flies stuck on flypaper. WTF? It was crazy. And nasty. Yet somehow absolutely awesome. I loved it. It still may be one of my favorite pieces I've ever seen. Even still with the nasty flies. After some later research on Hirst turns out he does all kinds of interesting things with his art: Sheep suspended in formaldehyde, a pharmacy shelf, butterfly wings as a kaleidoscope etc. All very odd, but interesting work.

You want to see some interesting and often bizarre works of art in an incredibly cool building? This is the place to do so.

8/25/2007

My favorite architect, Frank Lloyd Wright designed this inverted ziggurat which is known for its spiral structure complete with nautilus like glass work at the rotunda ceiling.  The building itself is a piece of modern art which was later added with an adjoining rectangular tower.  

You'll find displays of modern paintings rotated throughout the year.  The museum is for fans of modern art and architecture.  This Frank Lloyd Wright building is probably the most widely famous building in New York City.  Start at the top and work your way down.  There is a permanent exhibition rotated from a number of private modern art collections.  Check the website for current special exhibition on display.  During my visit, many Russian works of art were on display and some of my favorites; Picasso and Kandinsky.

New York City visitors can get reduced admission to the Guggenheim through New York City Pass.

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  Guggenheim Rotunda 2

  Guggenheim Rotunda 2
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  Guggenheim Rotunda 1

  Guggenheim Rotunda 1
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  at the Guggenheim

  at the Guggenheim

4/13/2009

Guggenheim gets the award for

"Best place ever to have a first date, take refuge from pouring, windy rain and walk off the miserable hangover from the previous night... museum"

Plus my date was impressed with my museum style clout.  I managed to to bypass the $18 admission for both of us because I flashed my work ID.  I guess it does pay to work at museum in NYC?  Because YEESH- EIGHTEEN DOLLARS to get into the Guggenheim?  

That shit is B-A-N-A-N-A-S.

And although the line was BANANAs too (perhaps because everybody and their grandmothers go to museums on rainy days), it was still expedited in a FAST and EFFICIENT manner.  Impressive.

Despite my perfect first date, the Gugg will always hold a special place in my heart.

7/31/2011

For the price, this museum is not worth it !! I had seen the building in a few movies so I wanted to checkout what all the hype was about.  When you walk into the lobby the building is really cool!! However, you can only take pictures on the lobby level of this museum none above the lobby.  I don't really understand why you can't take any pictures because there was not really anything earth shattering to see!  The coolest thing was this room that had $100,000 $1 bills taped to the wall.  I think that the admissions was about $18, and there are maybe... 70 ish paintings and 10 installations to see, however you do get an audio guide for free.   What I would do is walk into the lobby , don't buy a ticket to go to see the artwork up the ramp, take pictures of the architecture, then walk out and checkout the MET.

6/24/2010

Oh, how I love the Guggenheim.  There are plenty of reasons to love it, but I like it best when I take the elevator to the top floor and walk down the spiral, stopping in the galleries on each floor.  

The unique, FLW-designed building also makes for an amazing location for live music.  I'm still bummed about missing the Diplo show in January 2006.

5/28/2009

No. Just no. Seriously. Save your money. The Met is only 6 streets down, and you can get in there for a friggin' quarter. Don't waste your time or energy buying into the hype for this place. You'll only end up confused, bored, and disappointed. And possibly disoriented.

The architecture is cool and all, but quite honestly the exhibits are mostly crap. The only installation that interested me when I was there was a figure of Pinocchio lying face down in a plexi glass 'pool'. That was pretty much the highlight of my visit. I paid $15 to look at a dead Pinocchio. Woo-hoo.

Sometimes they have a worthy/thought-provoking installation or gallery or two, but overall I would not willingly set foot in there again.

Don't bring your kids here. Hell, don't bring anybody here. I have to disagree with Monica R about the Guggenheim being a good 'first date' place. Not in the least. My date and I were both open-minded art types, yet we were both ready to pull our hair out when we finished looking at everything. Just check out the pictures they put up online - that's pretty much the same quality of ooh and ahh you'd get from being there in person. Plus you won't have to pay $15-$18 for it.

12/24/2012

It IS difficult to write a proper review of the Guggenheim, as their exhibits change in extraordinary ways.  However, I've been to this museum probably 50 times over the years and must say I remember every single exhibit regardless of whether I was into the art at the time.  The permanent collection (esp. Kandinsky) is, in my opinion, on of the best in the world----although, I'd say it's only on exhibit about half the time.  The special exhibits over the years have ALWAYS been greatly interesting, and usually quite thought provoking.  I've heard lately it's gotten too crowded and with this specialized Wright architecture, that can be a bit challenging...particularly when the featured artists consists of chaotic art of some kind.  But if you are an art lover, you should not miss this museum even on off times.  On a lovely day, it's just across the street from Central Park, so if you get overwhelmed by the crowd or the spiral...just take a nice quiet walk in the park afterward.  You can walk to the Metropolitan Museum if you want to do 2 museums in one day...but often I find that's best done alone or with only one other person.  You can also walk to the Whitney...which are the other two treasures of the Upper West Side.  The pay what you wish days are worth the wait in line for sure....

9/20/2009

This is one of the best museum buildings ever, and they usually show great art to!   you are supposed to slowly stroll up the ramp seeing the art as you go,  I elevader to the top and stroll down.

12/10/2009

Not my cup of tea.
Out of all the museums I went to, this was my least favorite.

5 circular floors, really spaced out, some cool pieces but for the most part I was just looking up with excitement to see that I had one less floor to go up too. A bit dry would be my general consensus.

I would only go again if it were free.

11/29/2011

The Guggenhiem is a neat structure from the outside. However, the $18 entry fee is pricey, and the art gallery was small. We enjoyed the Cattelan (five stories, dangling  art) but you could see everything in this museum in 30minutes or less.

9/13/2010

The 'Haunted' exhibition that's there now is well put together. Many pieces are very insightful and very interesting. I'm glad they gave out the audio-tour with the purchase of the ticket because it explained the pieces very well. Rather than taking the exhibit in the order suggested, I went to the top and went through the pieces backwards which gave it a different feel which was equally stimulating.

As a space that I have always wanted to experience, The Guggenheim was as amazing as I thought. I was a bit disappointed to see the main rotunda blacked-out due to the current exhibit, but it was still great. Being designed by FLW during his time, the building remains time-less and still very relevant in today's architecture. FLW was an architectural genius. Studying his work from the prarie houses to his work in Los Angeles, his reinvention of form and function at the different locations leaves much to be learned.

8/21/2009

I love the Guggenheim, the exhibits are always fantastic and the architecture alone is amazing.
It's a little expensive, but it's worth it.
If you like modern art, visiting the museum is a must.

8/27/2008

Fantastic museum found along New York's museum mile next to Central park.
The architecture of the building is an impressive work of art in itself with it's slanting spiral shape.
The Guggenheim holds a massive amount of art in large rooms off the spiralling walk-way, in what initially looks like quite a small museum.

11/16/2009

My review may be tainted by the fact that I am not an arts buff and was dragged here by my friend visiting from Georgia. However, I found this museum a breath of fresh air when compared to the other art museums,  MoMa and Met.

First of all, the architecture alone kept me entranced. The curves and lines made for some beautiful views and photographs. Of course, my feet rebelled walking up the spiraled hallways of all six floors. The lay out makes it easy to breeze through and see the entire exhibit without being engulfed in a labyrinth-like stadium size monstrosity like the Met ( I swear it impossible to every see the whole thing). It also made for an easy and logical flow of the artist's work and allowed you to experience a progression of pieces that flowed into the next.

The $18 price tag is STEEP, but thanks to corporate membership we didn't have to pay making this a perfect excursion. A-OK with me as far as musuems go. I'd bring my visitors back here again for sure.

1/9/2009

I had not been to the "Gug" in years, and it took a visit from my parents at Christmastime to get me to the museum. Well, that and the Catherine Opie photography exhibit, which I had been dying to see. My mom had never been to the museum and was really looking forward to it, as was my dad, both are Frank Lloyd Wright fans and have seen his other works north of Chicago.
I don't think I need to tell you that the Frank Lloyd Wright design is absolutely beautiful and stunning in its own right. I'm no architectural genius, but I can certainly appreciate the feel and the curves of the interior. While winding our way up to the top I periodically ran my hand along the inside wall, near the center of the building, just to *feel* it. Get to the top and go to the center and gaze down at the museum lobby and you might get vertigo. On the way back to the bottom the thought of bringing a skateboard or doing a single woman luge came across my mind (seriously, how cool would that be?).
The museum's permanent exhibit in the Thannhauser Collection includes Manet, Picasso, Chagall, Pissaro, Degas, Marc, Kandinsky, Monet, Cezanné, Van Gogh, and Renoir to name a few. The various collections are tucked away in side galleries, (on the perimeter of the structure) where, if you're not paying attention, you could happily get lost and not find your way back to the center of the museum. At one point my parents and I were looking at the map and then located a back stairway up to the next level. It felt so secretive, even though it was a public stairwell. Very cool.
Viewing art in itself is an experience, but to have said art contained within the walls of such a lovely piece of art as the Guggenheim certainly adds to the overall experience. Highly, highly recommended. Also, they're open Saturday-Wednesday, 10a-5:45p, and on Fridays, from 10a-7:45p.

6/8/2010

The Guggenheim Museum architecture is pretty awesome. When you enter into the library, you'll pretty much be amazed by the spiral walkway museum. Along the path, there are a lot modern sculptures, paintings, photos. We went on Museum Mile day, so the museum was free and open to public. There was quite a lot of people.

I'd recommend going all the way to the top. It's an awesome view.

11/29/2011

I'm not a connoisseur of art, so take this for what it's worth.  This is worth the $18 to say you've been there, but it didn't meet my expectations.  The Cattelan exhibit is currently on display, which I found interesting at best.  The building is neat.  We were there just over an hour.  If you only get to choose one, look at the Guggenheim from the outside and walk to the Frick.

3/16/2010

I love the Guggenheim.  The building itself is a work to be pondered, but the exhibits are always stimulating and hold true to the museum's form and intent.  While a good portion of the museum was closed off due to installations, I enjoyed the 'Contemplating the Void' exhibits and loved Anish Kapoor's Memory.  

As a Chicagoan, I pledge allegiance to FLW, and the Guggenheim is a must-see for any NYC visit.

11/22/2008

Surprisingly, the picture of the 400 lb naked man bent over with pearls coming out of his ass wasn't the most shocking thing at the latest exhibit.

I would describe it but I've blocked it to protect myself from night terrors.

This museum is pretty cool with it's circular hallways and side halls with permanent and traveling exhibits.  

I docked a star because they let way too many people in and it was damn loud and crowded.  

Worth a visit.

Oysters?

3/30/2009

Even though I've known about the corkscrew museum for ages, I didn't actually go to the Guggenheim until recently and I loved it.

Other reviewers have said that the architecture is the best thing about it, and maybe the architecture is the reason why I had such a good experience.

As someone who can't absorb more than 45 minutes of art and like to sit in the back of the theater in case I want to escape, the Guggenheim is perfect. First, it's not huge - you can't spend too long there. Also, the spiral let's you know where you are, what you've seen, how much you have yet to see. It let's you run ahead or duck out to the cafe then meet back up with your group because you can see the whole place at once! It's easy to wander and revisit pieces; this kind of breathing room is great for viewing art.

I saw "The Third Mind," an exhibit of American artists responding to Asia and Asian art - it included the Beats, painters from the Pacific Northwest, actually interesting quotes on the walls and so much more. It was very thoughtfully curated and it really seemed that there was something for everyone and that no one left without seeing a piece they could connect to.

The exhibit is open until April 19th, go see it!

Fridays 5:45-7:45 pm is pay what you can - people line up early, $1 seemed to be the standard donation.

10/15/2009

The permanent collection alone, with its Degas, Renoir and Picasso's would be enough to entice you to this upper east side institution but go NOW! I found the current Kandinsky exhibit  magical, it more than made my week. The pieces on view reminded me of why I love music, color, technology and multiple influences on visual art.

Be careful if you want to use an expired student id for the student price ($15 instead of $18) because some of the employees will quiz you on the graduation date.  The free audio guide is very informative so grab one and set off.

6/29/2010

The beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright building is worth the $18 admission alone. There's some really beautiful pieces of art inside, and the obligatory, "this is considered art?" pieces. I love the spiral staircase, also helps avoid the lost in a museum feel, you just keep walking and never end up seeing the same stuff twice.

Also, you get the audio tour for free, unlike other museum where you have to pay for the handset, which is a perk.

Definitely must check out this museum. If i had to give an order of events if you're in NYC for a short time, I would go in this order:

1)The Met
2)The Natural History Museum
3)MoMa
4)Guggenheim

Happy Arting!

9/21/2011

i went during one of their free days and it was okay. i like art and i try pretty hard to understand it but i guess the exhibit i saw just wasnt for me.

saw the lee ufan exhibit and i guess i can see the point he was trying to make but i am definitely not a fan.

3/24/2010

I really didn't know what to expect from my first visit to "The Gug," but was impressed with what we saw.  

We went on a mid-Sunday afternoon when they had the Frank Lloyd Wright exhibits of all his architecture - building diagrams, schematics, models, and even a couple concept projects that never came to fruition.

I don't fit the common mold of "musuem-goer" at anytime, and this was the only "touristy" thing I did the entire trip - I'm not a fan of tourists or lines so I just stick with my friends that live there; they usually know the good spots anyway.  The Gug was a great choice and just enough of a culture injection for a weekend full of staying out till sun-up and constant drinking.  PS - brought Advil and plenty of water for the trek up the ramp and the vertigo-esque look from the top.

Great to see a couple familiar classics as well: Picasso, Rembrandt, etc.

A little pricey, but what attraction in the city isn't...  

I wouldn't spend a whole day here, 2 hrs max and one visit was good enough for me.

3/3/2009

The building as an idea is remarkable. It revolutionized the way architects, artists, and curators plan and consider shows.  However, it is not a space that is meant for everyday shows, or can truly give the best light and space for certain works. For others, though,it is phenomenal. It's also worth a visit because the scaffolding has finally come down, and to see Frank Lloyd Wright's building (even with the unfortunate addition) in all its white, shining glory is fantastic.

Don't wear heels, ladies. You will regret that decision.

11/2/2009

Yes!  Go!  Your mother would say it's good for you!

11/18/2009

I really wish they thought about the inside of this museum. Its interior design really takes away from the artwork itself. It's breathtaking at first but then you realize everybody's voices are bouncing off the concrete everywhere and it gets very noisy. The echoey noise, coupled with the museum's vain attempts to put up an exhibition of paintings on curved walls by having them on extended boards gives the entire museum a "Elementary School Science Fair" atmosphere. -1 Star.

Also, the price. They barely had a student discount. The Met and the MoMA have so many other varied pieces of art at a much easier price. Art should be for everyone, which means everyone should be able to afford to see the art. -1 Star

Compared to the collections of the Met and MoMA, this museum has very, very few pieces of art, many of which are just of the same time period or artist. There seems to be no real focus or progression of time or evolution of style here throughout the whole collection. Plus, again, the ceilings in the other galleries are so low compared to how big the paintings are I feel like I'm being suffocated. Just not a comfortable place overall. -1 Star.

11/12/2011

Love Love Love this museum.  However, the shows are either extremely good or very luke warm-- nothing in the middle.  The recent Cattelan show was A-MAZ-ING & really unique in the way it was curated.  A few yrs ago, the Cai Guo-Qiang was unbelievably fantastic & inspiring.  Disregarding price, the location near the park & other museums is just perfect!

11/3/2009

I finally went to this Guggenheim (for the first time) to see the Kandinsky exhibit last week. Wow. That is one of the most beautiful & fascinating buildings I have ever visited! I love that you can lose yourself in the art you are viewing without actually getting lost in the building! Brilliant Frank Lloyd Wright design!! And, while some people might get bored of viewing so much work by the same artist, I found it very interesting to see how Kandinsky's style and technique had changed over the years. I will definitely return to this museum in the future!

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  Kindinsky @ the Guggenheim Museum, NYC.

  Kindinsky @ the Guggenheim Museum, NYC.
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  Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, NYC

  Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, NYC
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  Inside the Guggenheim Museum, NYC.

  Inside the Guggenheim Museum, NYC.

3/9/2010

I agree with most of the reviews here:

I was taken by the architecture of the building but not so much by the art.  After seeing the same artist's work over and over again everything became a blur. Couple that with the pricey admission and I don't think I will be back anytime soon.

I would recommend going to the MET instead.

Tip: If you do decide to go on a weekend, take the elevator all the way up and make your way down instead of going up with the rest of the crowd - much more pleasant experience.

5/9/2007

4.5

Definitely my most fave museum.  The architecture is phenominal, the building itself is what people come to see!!  I love the lay-out of the spiraling floors, and the view from above to see the previous floors!!

It was under construction when I went so I couldn't fully enjoy the entirety of it.  They were really strict with photography--none was allowed past the disco-like room on the first floor.  I mean, I didn't get yelled at for taking pictures in MOMA!!

I will definitely come back again!  Take advantage of the CITY PASS, for under $60, you get to see this museum, MOMA, and the American Museum of Natural History!!

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  my sis is resting from groovin'

  my sis is resting from groovin'
• See all photos from Rinne R. for Guggenheim Museum

1/30/2009

Franklin Lloyd Wright's architecture is the highlight of the Guggenheim.  It's worth a visit just for that.  Unfortunately, most of the floors were closed when I went.  Luckily, I had a free corporate pass.  Cool Wright souvenirs in the gift shop.

Bilbao is still my fave.  However, I'd like to check out the one being built in Abu Dhabi, it's being designed by Frank Gehry and will be the largest of all the Guggs!

4/28/2009

i am totally reviewing the cafe because quite honestly the museum has its fair share of goods and bads... we were there to check out free fridays (yes ladies and gentlemen the gug is free on fridays from 5 something to 8pm - perfect timing! p.s. if you drive there remember there is ample parking on the street - don't be making the same mistake i made!)
anyway, naturally we wanted to be soaked in art and cared v. little about getting grub before going in ... which lead us to the cafe
1. nothing in the cafe
2. the kettle chips were awesome
3. overpriced (naturally)
4. the cookie was awesome
5. don't come here unless it is for the kettle chips
i hope this helps because i know you really just want to check out the museum shop and that is very bad of you

10/23/2009

The building alone is a work of art, Frank Lloyd Wright got it right with this beautiful building =)

When I went to this museum, they were showing nothing but Kandinsky,one of my faves, so I was thrilled to have been able to see this. This is also a MUST on your "to do in NY" list.

10/12/2008

Do you have a rich uncle, baby? This special place is not per "donation" entrance.

Please have your rich uncle make it so that it will be per "donation" entrance. That's all I ask of you, Moneybags McGee. The best moments of my life have happened at this place and I want to visit it every day.

Thank you.

5/5/2009

Considering visiting the Guggenheim right now? Don't. Change your mind now.

Right now, the Guggenheim is in the middle of installations. Since the Guggenheim is so dependent on their exhibitions, when they're installing, the Guggenheim is not at all worth the price of admission. When I went with a friend recently, they barely had two floors open of the seven.

It wasn't worth it, so check the web site before you go to be sure that there's something to see. I'm sure it's a pleasant enough museum otherwise, but cripes, their Kandinsky exhibit only had two pieces by him!

10/31/2011

It should be shut down while under construction.  We paid a reduced price (that was still hefty) to see close to nothing and ABSOLUTELY no view.  I will not be returning.

2/21/2008

In short: didn't live up to my expectations.  Though I haven't been to the Guggenheim in Bilbao, I've been to the Peggy Guggenheim in Venice which is a FANTASTIC space with an intriguing, heterogenous collection.  I was hoping for the same with this museum.

Maybe I'm just spoiled, but I found the permanent collection to be tiny.  I liked the temporary exhibition at first, but after winding my way up to the top it all started to seem redundant.  I felt like it was just way too much of a single artist.  Though the architecture is impressive, its effect was diminished by all the renovations going on.  Oh well.  I'm still glad I checked it out, and I'll give it another chance when I'm in NY again.

6/5/2011

We received free passes from our local library and Im so glad we did. At the time of our visit ALL of the ramps were under construction, leaving very little to view. We saw a couple of Picassos, a Van Gogh, Kaminsky and a Monet. The Hugo Boss project was very cool. We were out of there in about 40 minutes. The building itself is awesome and makes you want to go outside but at this time they have not too much to offer. They do have a kids tote in which you can use. It has a sketch pad, some colored pencils, puzzle pieces, a scavenger hunt. My 9 yr old particularly liked it. I wouldn't pay the entrance price especially considering a lot of the art work is missing. The children's wing with projects from kids around the city was very cool.