Contemporary art is a harmony of inner, substantive content and outward form. Interest in contemporary art grows with each passing year — or at least that is what one would like to believe.
Perhaps the rising appetite for travel, for discovering the world and unfamiliar cultures, plays a part — who knows. But it is a fact that when we arrive in a city or country we have never visited before, we make a point of looking in on at least a couple of museums. No journey should be complete without a visit to a contemporary art museum.
Losko has gathered 10 contemporary art museums that not only fill visitors' minds with creative ideas, but also captivate passers-by with the power of their structures.
Stiftung Insel Hombroich — Neuss, Germany
Stiftung Insel Hombroich in Neuss, Germany is a museum founded in 1987 by art collector Karl-Heinrich Müller. It is a museum that invites visitors to set aside, for a time, the noise of urban life and the pull of passing trends. There are no signposts anywhere on the grounds, leaving guests free to explore this nature-immersed space on their own terms, discovering favourite paths and vistas. More photographs can be found in Kilian Schönberger's project.
Messner Mountain Museum — Kronplatz, Italy
Situated on the summit of Kronplatz, at an altitude of 2,275 metres above sea level and within South Tyrol's most popular ski resort, this museum is a project by the incomparable Zaha Hadid. The MMM is the final installment in a series of six mountain-summit museums conceived by Reinhold Messner — the mountaineer who became the first person in history to climb Everest without supplemental oxygen. Photography by Werner Huthmacher, Inexhibit.
Kiasma — Helsinki, Finland
This museum of contemporary art operates under the auspices of the Finnish National Gallery. Through its exhibitions and the ongoing development of its own collection, Kiasma is focused on nurturing and promoting contemporary art in Finland. The museum building itself weaves organically into the city's geometry and surrounding landscape, reflecting both. The building was designed by American architect Steven Holl.
Stedelijk Museum — Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Amsterdam's municipal museum stands on Museum Square, close to the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. The Stedelijk as it exists today is the result of work by Benthem Crouwel Architects, who preserved elements of the original museum building along with the white colour scheme introduced throughout by former director Willem Sandberg (1945–1962). The Stedelijk represents all the major movements of contemporary art. Photographs by Jannes Linders and Frederik Vercruysse.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Barcelona — Barcelona, Spain
Situated in a district that was once a monastic enclave, this museum establishes a sustained dialogue between the city's historic fabric and the contemporary art within. American architect Richard Meier adhered to a strict rationalism, drawing on the masters of the modern movement — above all Le Corbusier. The building is shaped by a combination of rectilinear and curved elements — a geometry softened by natural light. The site has also become one of Barcelona's most celebrated skate spots: its steps and granite paving provide ideal conditions. Photographs by Pete Sieger.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art — Copenhagen, Denmark
The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is located 40 km north of Copenhagen and has a reputation as a museum deeply connected to and reflective of the spirit of contemporary art. The permanent collection comprises 3,000 works, complemented by 8–12 temporary exhibitions each year.
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao — Bilbao, Spain
Situated on the Nervión river in Bilbao, Spain, the Guggenheim Museum consists of alloys of complex, spiralling forms and an unusual exterior cladding. The opening of the museum in Bilbao contributed to the city's economic growth. This phenomenon of urban transformation following the construction of a significant architectural landmark came to be known as the 'Bilbao Effect'. The architect behind this structurally and formally complex building is Gehry Partners. Photography by Francesc Mendia Jo.
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth — Fort Worth, Texas
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth — an example of the work of Japanese architect Tadao Ando, whom we have written about before. He employed simple geometry, sensitivity to the surrounding environment and a minimal palette of materials when designing the building. The result is an impression that the five long pavilions are gliding, mirror-like, across the surface of the lake. The museum's collection spans a range of artistic movements: Pop Art, Minimalism, Abstract Expressionism, contemporary photography and more. Photography by Pete Sieger.
Museum Aan de Stroom — Antwerp, Belgium
The museum MAS was designed as a tower standing 60 metres tall. Each floor of the tower rotates by a quarter turn, creating a sweeping spiral staircase. The museum is a repository of history at the heart of the old harbour. Moving through the city's past, visitors can turn away from the inanimate and discover a vibrant, living contemporary city. At the top of the tower there is a restaurant and a terrace with panoramic views.
Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói — Niterói, Brazil
The Museum of Contemporary Art — MAC — in the city of Niterói, Brazil, was designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. Its shape — a saucer or flying saucer, depending on your preference — perched on a cliff above Guanabara Bay, frames a sweeping panorama of Rio de Janeiro. The museum's permanent collection includes 1,217 works from the collection of João Sattamini, assembled over 45 years. In addition, the MAC exhibits works by Brazilian artists. Photography by Lindman Photography, Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Full list:
- Stiftung Insel Hombroich — Neuss, Germany
- Messner Mountain Museum — Kronplatz, Italy
- Kiasma — Helsinki, Finland
- Stedelijk Museum — Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Barcelona — Barcelona, Spain
- Louisiana Museum of Modern Art — Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao — Bilbao, Spain
- Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth — Fort Worth, Texas
- Museum Aan de Stroom — Antwerp, Belgium
- Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói — Niterói, Brazil
If you enjoyed this selection, we recommend taking a look at our article on contemporary architecture of churches from around the world. It is something quite remarkable.
