Guggenheim Museum

Guggenheim was born in Philadelphia in 1861 into a wealthy mining family. After becoming a successful businessman, he began collecting Modern Art from 1926 onwards. In 1930, under the guidance of the artist Hilla von Rebay, he bought 150 pieces of art from Kandinsky, which gave way to his Art collection.

The Best Piece: the Building

The Guggenheim Museum of New York was opened on 21 March 1959 after 16 years of sketches, blueprints, and construction. The architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, was criticized for making a building that would outshine the Art collection.

The building underwent extensive expansion throughout the last decades, the last one in 2008, when the structure was modified for its 50th anniversary.

Until the new building was finished, Guggenheim’s collection was located on 54th Street under the name of the Museum of Non-Objective Painting. Three years after the death of Solomon R. Guggenheim in 1949, the Museum was renamed after its founder.

The Guggenheim Foundation also left its mark in Spain with the construction of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. 

The museum's collection

The Museum’s collection has increased over the years and includes work by artists such as Marc Chagall, Vasily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso, Edouard Manet and Vincent van Gogh.

Due to its limited space and the exchange of artwork between the other Guggenheim museums, the exhibition changes several times a year. The best way to find out what exhibition is in the Museum is by checking out their official website.

Guided Tours

The Guggenheim Museum offers free guided tours in English every day at 11 am and 1 pm, or you can get a free audio guide during the rest of visiting hours.

A Definite Must-See

If only to see one of the most influential buildings of the 20th century, it's worthwhile visiting the Guggenheim Museum.