So we finally made it to MoMA PS1 in Long Island City, Queens, and wow—this place is seriously cool. Forget your typical stuffy museum vibes; this spot is housed in an old 1893 Renaissance-revival public school building that shut down in the ’60s, and honestly, that’s half the charm. Walking up to 22-25 Jackson Avenue, you can still feel the history radiating from those brick walls.
Getting There Was a Breeze
Props to Queens for actually having decent public transit options. We hopped on the subway and took the M train to Court Square-23rd Street, and boom—we were practically there. The whole area around Long Island City has transformed into this artsy, residential hotspot, which makes the museum feel like it belongs to the neighborhood rather than just sitting there all pretentious.
The Building Itself Is Art
Here’s the thing that blew our minds: this isn’t just a museum that displays art—the building IS the art. There are these permanent artist installations everywhere, tucked into the most unexpected corners. We’re talking bathrooms, stairwells, even the boiler room. The whole place feels like one giant, evolving art project that’s been happening since the ’70s when founder Alanna Heiss first opened it with the legendary “Rooms” exhibition.
The Exhibitions Were Mind-Bending
We caught some seriously interesting stuff during our visit. “Vaginal Davis: Magnificent Product” was an absolute trip—five decades of work from this performer, visual artist, and self-proclaimed “Blacktress” who’s been a countercultural icon and underground trailblazer in queer politics. The uncompromising glamour? Chef’s kiss.
Then there’s “Four Dilations,” which messes with your whole concept of time. The exhibition explores temporal dilation—basically how time can pass differently depending on your frame of reference. Deep stuff that had us standing there going, “Wait, what?” in the best possible way.
James Turrell’s “Meeting” = Pure Magic
Okay, we need to talk about James Turrell’s “Meeting” because it’s literally built into the structure of the building. It’s this conceptual skylight installation from 1986 that’s designed to enhance the colors of the sky at dusk. We timed our visit to catch the late afternoon light, and sitting there watching the sky change through that perfectly framed opening? Genuinely magical. No photo can do it justice—you just have to experience it.
Free for New Yorkers?
Best part? MoMA PS1 is completely free if you’re a New Yorker, and for everyone else, admission is just a suggested donation of $10. The museum is open from noon to 6 p.m. most days (10 a.m. on Saturdays), and they’re closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Honestly, the accessibility and community focus really shine through.
The Whole Vibe
What we loved most is how MoMA PS1 doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s experimental, a little rough around the edges, and totally unpretentious. They’ve got Ora’s Market for coffee and snacks, a killer bookstore (Artbook @ MoMA PS1) with cutting-edge art publications, and they even host the famous Warm Up summer music series.
Walking through those old school hallways filled with contemporary art, stumbling upon installations in the most random spots, and soaking in the creative energy—it reminded us why we love exploring NYC’s art scene. MoMA PS1 isn’t trying to be the main MoMA in Manhattan; it’s doing its own thing in Queens, and it’s absolutely crushing it.
If you haven’t been yet, do yourself a favor and get over there. Your inner art nerd will thank you.