Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw

The Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw was founded in 2005 and has been a municipal cultural institution run by the city of Warsaw since 2023. Until 2017, it operated from a temporary location on Pańska Street, after which it opened a new exhibition space on Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie, named the "Museum on the Vistula." The museum organizes exhibitions, cultural and educational events, and conducts research on contemporary art, while building a collection of artworks intended to be displayed in its future headquarters at Defilad Square. In 2006, an international architectural competition was announced for the new museum building, which was won by Christian Kerez. Construction was initially scheduled to begin in 2012, but the project faced delays, leading to the termination of the contract with Kerez in 2012. Ultimately, in 2014, the design was entrusted to the studio Thomas Phifer and Partners. The construction was planned to cost 416 million PLN, with the theater building estimated at around 125 million PLN. The museum aims to present Polish art of the 20th and 21st centuries in an international context and foster dialogue between tradition and new artistic trends. Currently, the museum's collection includes over 400 works by both Polish and international artists. It implements educational programs for various age groups, particularly targeting school and university students, and develops international cultural cooperation. Throughout its existence, the museum has organized numerous exhibitions, many of which address important and controversial topics such as abortion, refugees, and the history of anti-fascist art. These exhibitions reflect social and artistic changes, serving as a space for reflection on contemporary issues. The museum remains open to diverse forms of art, and its activities contribute to raising public awareness of art and stimulating intercultural dialogue, making it a key point on Warsaw's cultural map. Since 2007, the museum has been directed by Joanna Mytkowska, and the institution continues to develop its programs and operations within a changing artistic and social context.