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Officials gathered today on the Bowery to celebrate the opening of the New Museum’s widely anticipated 60,000 sq ft expansion, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architecture firm OMA / Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas in collaboration with Executive Architect Cooper Robertson. Seamlessly integrated with the Museum’s existing SANAA-designed flagship building, OMA’s dramatic new expansion introduces the next chapter in the institution’s nearly fifty-year history of experimentation, innovation, and incubation of new art and new ideas.
Made possible by a $130 million capital campaign, the New Museum’s new building supports the expansion of the institution’s ambitious exhibition program, collaborations with peer arts institutions around the world, extensive education offerings both within the Museum’s walls and in the surrounding community, and industry-leading interdisciplinary initiatives including NEW INC, the first museum-born art, design, and technology incubator.
Attendees at the ribbon cutting included New York City Council Member Chirstopher Marte; New York City Cultural Affairs Commissioner Diya Vij; Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal; New York State Assemblymember Grace Lee; New York State Senator Brian Kavanagh; Erika Mallin, Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts; Lisa Phillips, Toby Devan Lewis Director of the New Museum; James-Keith Brown, President of the New Museum’s Board of Trustees; Shohei Shigematsu, Partner, OMA; and Erin Flynn, Principal, Cooper Robertson (now Corgan).
“Over the past five decades, the New Museum has grown its footprint at key moments in its history to better serve artists and the public, from the Museum’s beginnings in a temporary space on Hudson Street, to its years of programming on Broadway, to the opening of our first purpose-built space by SANAA in 2007, and now to the future possibilities offered by the OMA-designed expansion of our home on the Bowery,” said Lisa Phillips, Toby Devan Lewis Director of the New Museum. “Our 120,000 sq ft building offers a myriad new opportunities for the New Museum to support and partner with artists and art institutions across the globe while remaining deeply rooted in New York City.”
New York City Council Member Chirstopher Marte said, “On the Bowery, the New Museum has long been a home for bold ideas, new voices, and the kind of contemporary art that challenges people to see the world differently. Its reopening is an exciting moment not just for the city’s cultural life, but for Lower Manhattan. As this next chapter begins, I’m proud to welcome the New Museum back to our district and look forward to seeing it continue to bring artists, visitors, and neighbors together here in downtown New York.”
"The New Museum was born out of the bold, visionary, and boundary-pushing spirit of legendary Marcia Tucker. In the nearly fifty years since, the New Museum has invested in visionary women to create a home for new art and new ideas, especially those that don’t fit neatly into boxes,” said New York City Cultural Affairs Commissioner Diya Vij. "With this extraordinary, 60,000 square foot expansion shepherded by the great Lisa Phillips and her team, the New Museum is embarking on an exciting new chapter with more space for exhibitions, for experimentation, and for artists to connect with audiences in exciting new ways. The city is proud of its investment in this major project, which we supported alongside the museum's programs that offer free and affordable education and community engagement for all New Yorkers."
Erika Mallin, Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts, said, “As a proud supporter for nearly 50 years, NYSCA recognizes the New Museum as an institution that refuses to stand still. With this exciting expansion, they are more than a home for contemporary art: they are activating new ideas, growing alongside their community, and holding space for the art of tomorrow. The New Museum has reimagined what a museum can be and NYSCA looks forward to the next 50 years.”
“As we look forward to welcoming the public back to the New Museum—kicking off with a free opening weekend celebration—we are deeply thankful to the artists, community members, staff, board members, government officials, and patrons who have made this momentous collective accomplishment possible,” said James-Keith Brown, President of the New Museum’s Board of Trustees.
The New Museum’s expanded building is named for the late Toby Devan Lewis in memory of her steadfast support for the most experimental and pathbreaking art and artists, and in recognition of her twenty-seven years of service on the New Museum’s Board of Trustees. Generous support for the New Museum’s capital campaign has been provided by numerous individuals and foundations, as well as by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs with funding from the New York City Mayor’s Office, New York City Council, and Manhattan Borough President’s Office; the New York State Council on the Arts and Empire State Development with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
OMA-DESIGNED EXPANSION
Blending seamlessly with the existing SANAA-designed flagship building on the Bowery at Prince Street, the expanded New Museum provides twice the gallery space for visitors to experience the institution’s exhibitions; fluid circulation through the addition of three elevators, an Atrium Stair, and an entrance plaza; and new venues for public programs and special events, including an enlarged seventh floor Sky Room and a new 74-seat Forum. On its upper floors, the expanded building features a dedicated studio for artists-in-residence and a purpose-built home for the Museum’s cultural incubator NEW INC. On the ground level, visitors are welcomed into an enlarged lobby, an expanded bookstore, and coming in spring 2026, a full-service restaurant operated by the Oberon Group.
The facade provides a simple, unified exterior by using materials that recall and complement the original building while allowing for a higher degree of transparency. The OMA building communicates the activities of the New Museum outward, while creating an inviting presence that also draws the public inward. With its vastly expanded footprint and dynamic accessibility, the new building will exponentially increase the New Museum’s impact.
“I’m particularly excited that our first public building in New York City will be for the New Museum, one of the most forward-thinking institutions for which I’ve always had a great affinity. Having collaborated with Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa on a number of projects in Europe, it is a real honor to stand alongside their great work of architecture, one of my favorites in the city,” said Rem Koolhaas, Partner, OMA.
“We are grateful to New York City, the trustees and leadership of the New Museum, our colleagues and collaborators, and especially to Lisa Phillips for being exceptional partners over the past ten years. Because of their foresight, generosity, and tireless work, we are able to celebrate the building’s completion today. While maintaining the architectural integrity of SANAA’s original building, our design seeks to create a new whole rather than two halves, adding space and openness with its own distinct identity,” said Shohei Shigematsu, Partner, OMA.
OPENING EXHIBITION
The inaugural exhibition New Humans: Memories of the Future unfolds throughout the entirety of the expanded New Museum. Continuing the New Museum’s long history of presenting through-provoking and timely thematic surveys, New Humans brings together work by more than 200 artists, writers, scientists, architects, and filmmakers to explore how dramatic technological and societal changes have spurred new conceptions of what it means to be “human.” Featuring more than fifteen new commissions, New Humans examines the ways in which artists’ visions of the future have evolved throughout time, placing new and recent works by artists including Sophia Al-Maria, Lucy Beech, Meriem Bennani, Cyprien Gaillard, Pierre Huyghe, Tau Lewis, Daria Martin, Wangechi Mutu, Precious Okoyomon, Berenice Olmedo, Philippe Parreno, Hito Steyerl, Jamian Juliano-Villani, Andro Wekua, and Anicka Yi in the context of works by twentieth-century artists and cultural figures such as Francis Bacon, Constant Nieuwenhuys, Salvador Dalí, Ibrahim El-Salahi, H.R. Giger, Kiki Kogelnik, Hannah Höch, Tatsuo Ikeda, Gyula Kosice, El Lissitzky, Lennart Nilsson, Eduardo Paolozzi, Carlo Rambaldi, Germaine Richier, and Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven. Lead support for New Humans: Memories of the Future is provided by Circle.
Exhibition-related public programs will include conversations and workshops with New Humans participating artists including Cannupa Hanska Luger, Precious Okoyomon, Berenice Olmedo, WangShui, Hito Steyerl, and Anicka Yi, alongside other artists and thinkers including Lou Cornum, Leslie Cuyjet, David Gissen, Trevor Paglen, and Ariel Yelen. For more information, please visit newmuseum.org/events.
SITE-SPECIFIC COMMISSIONS
Alongside New Humans, new commissions created for dedicated sites in and around the New Museum’s expanded building include a work by Tschabalala Self created for the Museum’s facade, a monumental sculpture by Klára Hosnedlová for the Museum’s new Atrium Stair, and, opening in spring 2026, a work by Sarah Lucas created for the Museum’s new public plaza at the building’s entrance.
OPENING WEEKEND
The New Museum is offering free admission for its opening weekend, March 21 and 22, 2026, welcoming neighbors from across New York City and visitors from around the world to explore the Museum’s new space, experience its reopening exhibition and site-specific commissions, and celebrate with music and activities for art lovers of all ages. Tickets for opening weekend and beyond—including pay-what-you-wish Thursday evenings and free Family Days—are available at newmuseum.org/visit.
FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND YOUTH PROGRAMS
With its reopening, the New Museum has expanded its offerings for families, teenagers, and the local community. Free Family Days will take place the first Sunday of every month with art-making activities and story time. Teenagers are invited to the new Bowery Art Space, a free, monthly, drop-in art-making experience. Additional new resources include a Kids Activity Guide created by artist Azikiwe Mohammed and audio tours made just for kids featuring the voices of exhibiting artists and other special guests. All public schools in New York City are invited to visit the New Museum on free, guided school tours. For more information, visit newmuseum.org/learn.
NEW MUSEUM RESTAURANT
Designed by OMA / Shohei Shigematsu, the New Museum’s first full-service restaurant will open in spring 2026. The restaurant is operated by Henry Rich of the Oberon Group with Executive Chef Julia Sherman. The restaurant will feature a seasonal and produce-driven menu in an art-filled space, including a commission by Ian Cheng and furniture designed by Minjae Kim. The space is located on the lobby level of the New Museum with an additional entrance on Freeman Alley.
NEW MUSEUM STORE
Now doubled in size, the New Museum Store is located on the lobby level of the Museum and is accessible without purchasing an admission ticket. Alongside its outstanding selection of art books, the Store offers artist-made objects created to celebrate the New Museum’s expanded building and its reopening exhibitions and commissions. Shop now in-store or online at newmuseumstore.org.
HOURS, TICKETING, AND VISITOR INFORMATION
The New Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am–6pm, with pay-what-you-wish extended hours on Thursday evenings from 7–9pm. Admission to the New Museum including access to all of its exhibitions is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors, $22 for people with disabilities (with free admission for their caregivers), $19 for students, free for visitors 18 and under, free for SNAP/EBT recipients, and free for New Museum Members. Tickets can be purchased at the New Museum or online at newmuseum.org/visit.
The New Museum is located at 235 Bowery at the intersection of Bowery and Prince St., near the J/M at Bowery, the F at 2nd Ave, and the B/D/F/M/6 at Broadway-Lafayette.
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