Selecting the 10 best museums of modern art in Europe amongst the hundreds of deserving institutions is an almost impossible task, which is why we’ve curated a selection of both legendary and lesser-known museums which continuously capture the attentions of many.
The Tate Modern, Great Britain
As Europe’s most visited modern art gallery, the Tate Modern has a permanent collection across three floors covering everything from photography to performance art.
A visit to The Tate offers a complete history of modern art from the 20th century and beyond.
Centre Pompidou, France
Housing Europe’s largest modern art collection including works from Picasso, Miró, Chagall, Matisse, and Kandinsky, the Centre Pompidou rotates its exhibits every 6 months.
Additionally, the museum offers an array of exhibition on its 1st and 6th floors which has previously included greats such as Freud, Dali, and Richter.
Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain
Offering the works of impressive artists such as Jeff Koons and Richard Serra as well as thematic exhibitions from international artists and those residing in the Basque region, The Guggenheim Bilbao was named one of the ‘12 Wonders of Spain’ in 2007.
Kröller-Müller Museum, Netherlands
Characterised by its outdoor sculpture park, the Kröller-Müller Museum is housed in Otterlo’s Hoge Veluwe National Park and features works by the best sculptors of the last century and now, such as Hepworth and Rodin, and is best explored by bicycle. Time to get some great exercise and entertainment like you get at the best online gambling casino sites in New Zealand.
Hamburger Kunsthalle, Germany
While the main building of the Hamburger Kunsthalle houses an impressive collection of pre-20th century art – no doubt akin to the beauty – it is also home to the Gallerie der Gegenwart which is a leading collection of contemporary and modern art, with an active exhibition schedule.
S.M.A.K., Belgium
Founded in 1999 in a former casino, S.M.A.K., or Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst, is a new gallery on the international contemporary art scene which quickly built a stellar reputation thanks to its extraordinary collection including Warhol, Bacon, and Abramovic.
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Spain
Specialising in contemporary Spanish art, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina houses superior works of Dali, Gris, Miró, and many other modern art geniuses worth experiencing and is highly-reputable thanks to it being the home of Pablo Picasso’s monumental ‘Guernica’.
Serpentine/Serpentine Sackler, Great Britain
The Serpentine and its sister gallery the Serpentine Sackler have no permanent exhibitions, but successfully maintains its reputation by continuously offering new and exciting exhibitions.
Marina Abramovic’s legendary ‘512 Hours’ installation is housed at the Serpentine, following on from major exhibitions from contemporary greats such as Yoko Ono.
Castello di Rivoli, Italy
Based in a 17th century pallazo close to Turin, the building which houses the Castello di Rivoli is a World Heritage Site and the museum itself focuses on controversial figures of the international art world such Anselm Keifer, Nan Goldin, and Tracey Emin.
Kumu Art Museum, Estonia
Exploring the history of Estonian art from the 18th century onwards, the Kumu Art Museum has a particular interest in the juxtaposition of Soviet Realism from the Soviet history of Estonia and non-conforming works from the same period.