As the artist Marc Chagall once said, “In the arts, as in life, everything is possible provided it is based on love.” Whether eternal, maternal, fraternal, or universal, love makes its way into many artworks in MoMA’s collection. This guide will take you to some love-inspired spots across the Museum suitable for those with significant others, those focused on self-love, or simply those with love in their hearts. 🥰
Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night 🌙
Floor 5, Gallery 501
The Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries
Where else to start than one of the most beloved artworks in MoMA’s collection? Such is the power of Vincent van Gogh’s mesmerizing night sky that people have actually proposed marriage in front of it—a story you can hear on our audio guide. But it also entails another kind of love: as Van Gogh said, “If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.”
Claude Monet’s Water Lilies 🪷
Floor 5, Gallery 515
The David Geffen Wing
Could this be the most romantic gallery at MoMA? Whatever your age, wherever you’re from, it’s hard not to be moved by the colors and scale of Claude Monet’s vision. Maybe that feeling comes from the artist’s devotion to his subject: from 1914 until his death in 1926, Monet produced and continuously reworked 40 canvases like these based upon one of his undying love for his garden in Giverny, France.
Louise Nevelson’s Sky Cathedral 💒
Floor 4, Gallery 402
The David Geffen Galleries
If you genuinely love your work, you’re one of the lucky ones. That includes the artist Louise Nevelson. Listen to the audio to hear why she compared working on her art to “a marriage.”
Hal Fischer’s Blue Handkerchief, Red Handkerchief 🤧
Floor 4, Gallery 419
The David Geffen Galleries
How do you find intimacy when your government deems it a crime? It was not until 2003 that queer intimacy became legal in every US state. Gay men combatted discrimination by creating their own visual language. In his series Gay Semiotics, Hal Fischer takes a tongue-in-cheek look at how his community expressed their sexual desires through what they wore in a colorfully coded way.
Revital Cohen and Tuur Van Balen’s Forever 💍
Floor 1, 1 South
As the old song goes, “If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it.” But in this case the rock is human-made. Artist duo Revital Cohen and Tuur Van Balen created a diamond by collecting the carbon that remained after burning an elephant’s tusk. Their project highlights the devastating exploitation of natural resources, often in the name of love.
Listen to more 🎧
- Want to hear more? Find our audio playlists at moma.org/audio, or on MoMA’s guide on the free Bloomberg Connects app.
Eating and shopping 🍝 🛍️
- On a hot date and need a hot dish? Whether you’re looking for romantic fine dining or a more casual coffee and snack, we’ve got options for you. Check out our restaurant guide.
- Looking for the perfect gift for that special someone? In the market for a bit of retail self-love? From Robert Indiana’s iconic LOVE on a tote bag, to a love potion–scented candle, we have products you’ll fall for. Visit MoMA Design Stores (across from our main entrance on 53rd Street or downtown in Soho) and our Museum shops for all your shopping needs.