The Contemporary Art department includes over 1,000 works spanning from 1950 to present day from artists across the world. These works demonstrate how artists innovate new ways of thinking within shifting political and cultural landscapes.
We are undergoing a largescale maintenance project in our main building to ensure the preservation of the collection for future visitors. Certain Contemporary Art galleries and individual artwork may be off view during your visit.
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Since its founding in 1876, the Philadelphia Museum of Art has actively collected and proudly displayed the art of its time—art that, in its day, was contemporary. From those strong roots, the museum has developed one of the most dynamic and enterprising collections of contemporary art among this country’s encyclopedic art museums. Encompassing works created between 1950 and the present, the collection reflects the remarkable range and vitality of contemporary art, including film, installation, painting, sculpture, video, and more. Compelling and challenging, visually inventive and experientially engaging, this collection makes the museum a destination for those who love contemporary art and serves as a valuable resource for students, educators, and the many artists who’ve made Philadelphia their home.
Particular strengths of the museum’s vast Contemporary Art collection include:
Interested in learning more about the museum’s collection of contemporary art? Plan your visit to the museum today.
