Whitney Museum of American Art: Admission

At the beginning of the 20th century, the art scene was dominated almost exclusively by the European legacy and the great masters of antiquity. Faced with this limited vision, philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney decided to take a different direction and create a museum focused exclusively on contemporary American artists. Her initiative not only prospered, but ended up consolidating itself as a key institution in the history of American art in the 20th and 21st centuries. True to its original mission, the Whitney Museum continues to celebrate American art. Today it holds some 21,000 works created by approximately 3,000 artists, spanning a wide variety of formats-from painting and sculpture to photography, video, illustration and experimental media. Some pieces may surprise or mystify, but all provide insight into how American creativity has evolved from the beginning of the last century to the present day. Although Andy Warhol is perhaps the most recognized name in its collection, the museum also pays tribute to great figures of modern art such as Jasper Johns, Georgia O'Keeffe and Edward Hopper, fundamental pillars of the country's artistic identity. The Whitney does not only look to the past: it maintains a firm commitment to the new voices of contemporary art. Its prestigious Biennial, held every two years, serves as a platform to showcase emerging artists and innovative trends. Throughout its history, the museum has moved several times, as with many growing institutions. Its most recent move occurred in 2015, when it opened its doors in a contemporary design building created by Renzo Piano. This venue, located in the Meatpacking District, next to the famous High Line elevated park, offers more space than ever to showcase its impressive collection of modern and current art. In this vibrant setting on Manhattan's west side, the Whitney Museum of American Art presents itself as the ideal place to explore the creative ingenuity that has defined-and continues to define-contemporary American art.