MoMAs

MoMAs is a nonstandard term that may be used informally to refer to multiple institutions named Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) around the world, or to branches and affiliates within a MoMA-branded network. Because MoMA is an established and distinctive brand centered on modern and contemporary art, the plural usage is not official and can be ambiguous.

The best-known MoMA is The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, founded in 1929 by a group led by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. It occupies a central role in the presentation and interpretation of modern and contemporary art, with holdings spanning painting, sculpture, design, photography, film, and architecture. The museum has undergone several building changes, expansions, and renovations to accommodate its growing collections and programs, and it operates a research library and a variety of education initiatives, publications, and public programs.

In addition to the flagship institution, MoMA PS1 in Long Island City operates as an affiliated museum that focuses on experimental, contemporary art and often serves as a venue for new and emerging artists. While MoMA PS1 is distinct from MoMA New York, it is commonly associated with the MoMA brand and mission, illustrating how the MoMA name can encompass multiple facilities within a broader network.

Globally, there are other museums with similar names or translations of “Museum of Modern Art,” but they are separate entities from MoMA in New York. The term MoMAs, when encountered, typically reflects informal shorthand or discussions about more than one modern-art museum bearing a MoMA-like title, rather than a single, unified international institution.