Hey families! Planning an engaging day out with the kids in New York City can be as difficult as scoring Taylor Swift tickets, so let us do some of the work for you with our insider’s guide for a family-friendly visit to MoMA.
And don’t forget headphones 🎧 for you and the little ones. You can hear stories about some of the art on this list with audio for kids. 😊
Georges-Pierre Seurat’s Evening, Honfleur ⛱️
Floor 5, Gallery 501
The Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries
Let’s start with something that gets your eyes working. As you walk toward this painting, do you notice anything change about its appearance? Georges Seurat made this picture by layering thousands of tiny dots and short strokes of different colored paint, so the closer you get the less you see!
Marc Chagall’s I and the Village 🐮
Floor 5, Gallery 503
The Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries
Here’s a question we bet you didn’t think you’d ask during a museum visit: Who would win a staring contest between you and a cow? The green man and this cow have been battling it out for over a hundred years, and that’s probably what the artist intended. Marc Chagall painted this to remember the town he grew up in, and how much the animals and people relied on each other.
Marcel Duchamp’s Bicycle Wheel 🚲
Floor 5, Gallery 505
The Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries
If we asked you to imagine what art looks like, what would you picture? A painting with a gold frame? Or maybe a sculpture made of stone? You probably didn’t imagine a bicycle wheel stuck into a wooden stool, but this is one of the most famous works of modern art. Why? Listen to the audio to find out what Marcel Duchamp was up to.
Claude Monet’s Water Lilies 🪷
Floor 5, Gallery 515
The David Geffen Wing
Adults, do you need a tranquil pause? Then this one’s for you. Set the little darlings down to listen to a gardener from Claude Monet’s gardens in Giverny speak about her experience working there, while you gaze at this immersive group of paintings with your wonderfully quiet, attentive children. 😉
Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans 🥫
Floor 4, Gallery 412
The David Geffen Wing
Can you imagine having the same lunch every day for 20 years? That’s what Andy Warhol did, and he liked his lunch so much he made an artwork about it. Lucky for you, MoMA has great lunch options for kids in Café 2, and none of them are soup! Mac and cheese, anyone?
Alfonso Ossorio’s Empty Chair or The Last Colonial 🪑
Floor 4, Gallery 415
The David Geffen Galleries
Looking for a bit of variety? Everytime you look at this artwork, you’ll spot something new. Explore this artwork together by listening to the audio, which features an artist who compares Alfonso Ossorio’s work to “a mystery box.”
Rosemarie Castoro’s Side by Side 〰️
Floor 4, Gallery 420
The David Geffen Galleries
By this point in your MoMA visit you’ll have flexed your looking and thinking muscles enough to find meaning on your own. Rosemarie Castoro lets you decide what her artwork means to you. This one’s in a big gallery, so you’ll be able to stretch out and move around as you explore and imagine together.
Tim Rollins and K.O.S. (Kids of Survival)’s Amerika VIII 🎺
Floor 2, Gallery 206
The David Geffen Wing
What happens when a group of teenagers from the Bronx form an art gang with an art teacher? This enormous work is the answer. Each kid was asked to represent themselves by designing a horn, and naturally a competition arose to see who could make the best. How many can your family find?
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s Skylark 🪽
Floor 2, Gallery 209
The David Geffen Wing
Time for one last game? If you read the label for this artwork together, you’ll find there’s something to spot that you might not notice when you first see this painting. And that’s all we’re gonna say.
More resources for kids 😊
- Looking for more? Find a free Kids Activity Guide.
- Ready to create? Visit the Heyman Family Art Lab for some hands-on art making.
- Have a listen! Find our entire playlist of Kids audio online or on MoMA’s guide on the free Bloomberg Connects app.
Eating and shopping 🍝 🛍️
- Hungry? We’re not only a destination for art, we’re also a destination for food! Whether you’re looking for fine dining, simple pasta for the kids, or coffee and a snack, we’ve got options for you. Check out our restaurant guide.
- If you’re looking for memorable gifts for friends or family (or, let’s be honest, for yourself), you’ve come to the right place. Visit MoMA Design Stores (across from our main entrance on 53rd Street and downtown in Soho) and our Museum shops for all your shopping needs.