Resolution #1: Explore more.
There’s so much to experience in life, that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and get caught up in a routine of going to the same places, eating the same food and hanging out with the same people. This year, that routine changes to become more inclusive, adventurous and daring. One of my favorite pastimes is going to museums, be they art, science (one of my favorite places ever is the Exploratorium in San Francisco) or history.
If you’re like me, you most likely already have your favorites, but don’t forget about the thousands of museums that exist all over the world! Whether you’re planning a trip or adding to your bucket list, everyone should experience the beauty that lives in these renowned museums!
1. Tate Museum
If you’re in London, two places you have to visit are the Tate Modern and Tate Britain, two museums that belong to the same Tate Gallery network. The Tate institution houses Britain’s national collection of art, as well as contemporary and international art. If you’re looking for pieces from the 1500s, visit the Tate Britain, and if you’re looking for contemporary pieces, visit the Tate Modern. Don’t forget to visit their gift shop for an artsy souvenir!
2. Reina Sofia
The Reina Sofia in Madrid, Spain, is one of the most beautiful museums I’ve ever had the fortune of visiting. The best part about this museum, in addition to its beautiful contemporary architecture, is its collection. I highly recommend checking this museum out if you want to see some of Dali’s original pieces and Picasso’s famed Guernica.
3. Prado Museum
One of the reasons why I fell in love with the Prado museum was due to its extensive Goya collection. It was here that I experienced, firsthand, the emotional intensity and beauty of Saturn Devouring His Son, one of my favorite pieces from his Black Paintings collection. The Prado museum features European art pieces that date back from the 12th century to the 19th. Your trip to Madrid wouldn’t be complete without a visit to this museum.
4. Getty Villa
Your first step at the Getty Villa feels like you’ve just entered heaven. Located in the Malibu Hills, this museum can only be accessed by a tram, which takes you through lush, green mountains into your final destination: a breathtaking white-marbled and -stone palace filled with Romanesque halls and vibrant greenery. The Getty Villa was modeled after an ancient Roman country house and is replete with shrubs, herbs and amenities found in the era of 1 AD. The Getty Villa is dedicated to Greek and Roman art and sculptures, but even if that’s not your thing, it’s still worth a visit.
5. MOMA
While the former MOMA is undergoing remodeling (with a reopen date set for May 14, 2016), its contemporary and modern art collection is something both locals and tourists flock to see. The MOMA, whose makeover we eagerly anticipate, houses a wonderful collection of Rothko, Clyfford Still, Matisse, and Picasso pieces. Another pro to visiting this museum is that it features and honors local artists with special exhibits, events and gatherings.
If you’re in San Francisco and have some time to spare, I highly recommend visiting the DeYoung Museum and Academy of Sciences, both within walking distance of each other and located in Golden Gate Park.
6. The Broad
While I have yet to visit this museum (the waiting list for admission is booked for the next 2 months), the Broad Museum is the latest to gift Los Angeles with even more contemporary art. Highly-anticipatory and eager buzz surrounded this museum even before it opened, with a focus on the enviable 2000-piece Broad Collection featuring work from some of the greatest contemporary artists of all time such as Basquiat, Chuck Close, Yayoi Kusama, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, god, and so many more. It’s one of the best collections housed in any one museum, so if you’re in LA, forgo the Walk of Fame and go to the Broad instead.
7. The Guggenheim de Bilbao
No museum bucket list would be complete without a visit to the iconic Guggenheim de Bilbao, designed by Frank Gehry, and located in Bilbao, Spain. The artwork housed inside features mainly Spanish and international artists, but it’s the architectural masterpiece itself that’s worth seeing. Frank Gehry, who also designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, created an iconic building that forever changed the rules of architecture.
The original museum, Soloman R. Guggenheim, in Manhattan, New York, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a pioneer who paved the way for architects like Gehry.
8. The Museum Of Natural History
History buff? Or maybe you’re just a fan of the Ben Stiller Night At The Museum movies? Either way, the Museum of Natural History is a must if you’re in New York and looking for a life-changing, educational experience. The Museum of Natural History is one of the largest museums in the world, made up of 27 interconnected buildings with over 45 permanent exhibits. The museum features mammals, ecosystems, landscapes, and cultures from the dawn of time. Set a day aside to explore this museum in full and end your day with a walk around Central Park.
9. The Smithsonian
Ah, the Smithsonian, one of the world’s most-famed museums. Fun fact of the day: the Smithsonian Institution is actually managed by the Government of the United States! Who would’ve thought it, right? Made up of 19 museums, the Smithsonian features over 138 million items.
10. The Louvre
Ah, it’s so hard to choose just one museum when Paris is home to so many beautiful, amazing ones! There’s the Musee D’Orsay with its amazing French impressionist collection featuring artists like Degas, Renoir, Monet and Van Gogh; the Chateau de Versailles, once the center of political power in France, now a lavish artifact in which commoners like us can walk through and marvel at; and, the Centre Pompidou with its eclectic design, vast public library and huge modern art collection.
However, with all of those great museums, I’d have to say that The Louvre, home to classic pieces like the Mona Lisa, The Fortune Teller, and The Winged Victory of Samothrace, should be in the top 5 of your Things To Do In Paris list. In addition to its Renaissance collection, the famed pyramid (and inverted pyramid) is another reason to visit the beautiful museum.
11. The MET
The MET isn’t just where the stars gather every year for the annual gala, it’s home to over 2 million works of art, making it the largest, most visited museum in the United States. The MET features pieces from every region, artistic style and genre, and! features a Pay What You Wish admission fee.
At the crux of their collections, museums house our culture, way of life, passions, interests, and history. They’re monuments to the achievements we’ve made as individuals and as a people.
This year, expand your base of experience, knowledge and outlook by visiting one of these famous cultural institutions! I guarantee it will become a new obsession of yours.