Moco Museum
Moco Museum
Moco Museum
MODERN CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM
Fun for all the family! What? Really? This is an art gallery, right? Right, but the Moco is no ordinary art gallery. You can explore the work of big-name artists like Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and Banksy and take some awesome photos as you reflect forward in Studio Irma. Calling all teens and Instagrammers!
My Rating:
The positives:
Incredible contemporary art and plenty of fun photo opportunities.
The negatives:
The museum is very popular. It can feel a bit claustrophobic when too many people cram into the mirrored rooms. Also it is maybe a bit expensive...
Top Tip:
a) Buy a ticket in advance. b) Avoid weekends.
Last Modified: 15.01.2025 | Céline
Moco Museum
Tickets
The details
at a glance
What is there
to see?
You’ll get serious Alice in Wonderland vibes in the Moco Garden. Have a stroll around and see what you stumble upon! It’s true that the best surprises are the ones you least expect. Chances are you have never seen a giant red gummy bear, a little circus wagon or an oversized pink bed in any other front garden.
And if you think the outside area is impressive, you’re going to want to make your way inside!
The Moco Museum focuses on temporary exhibitions alongside its one permanent exhibition. Moco Masters is dedicated to big names from the art world that you are sure to have come across before. And if you haven’t, now’s your chance!
Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Mark Rothko are just some of the stars of this collection. You can admire their artwork inside the museum and outside, where renovation work was recently signed off.
Moco masters are selected for their talent, innovation or vision. The artists were friends, acquaintances and even colleagues in some cases. Having inspired each other, their work continues to inspire the next generation.
And then you have the temporary exhibitions. At the moment, the spotlight is on Banksy’s street art, whilst Studio Irma will be inviting you in for some forward reflections.
Everyone is talking about Banksy right now and as I’m writing this, there are three other exhibitions dedicated to his (or her) work. The artist’s identity has still not been revealed, which makes them all the more fascinating. Anti-capitalist messages are at the heart of their work, which often highlights injustice and inequality. A few of their most iconic pieces are currently on display at the Moco Museum.
Yayoi Kusama is another interesting artist, who has a whole room dedicated to her unique interior design style as part of the permanent exhibition at the Moco Museum. ‘Night of Stars’ and ‘Pumpkins’ are on display on the first floor.
Moco Museum
A bit of history
The Modern Contemporary (Moco) Museum in Amsterdam is a relatively new museum, having first opened its doors in April 2016. But it was an immediate hit thanks to its collection of artwork and unique style.
The museum can be found inside Villa Alsberg, a townhouse on Museumsplein, just next door to the Rijksmuseum. And it’s no coincidence that architect Eduard Cuypers chose this spot for the building back in 1904. Cuypers, Cuypers? Do you have the feeling you’ve seen that name somewhere else around here? Spot on! Eduard was the nephew of architect Pierre Cuypers, who designed the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Central Station. That explains the location then! What nephew wouldn’t want their work to stand proudly beside their uncle’s? The building was a private residence until 1939, when it was used by local priests. A law firm also occupied the space at one point.
The museum’s collection of modern and contemporary art contrasts beautifully with the traditional old building it calls home.
Did you know that the art on display doesn’t actually belong to the museum? Even the works in the Moco Masters exhibition are on permanent loan from several art collectors.
Since October 16, 2021 there is also the Moco Museum Barcelona. The new branch has now received some works that were previously presented here in Amsterdam…
Official website of the Moco Museum: www.mocomuseum.com
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2021 – 2025
With the permission of the Moco Museum