Rubin Museum of Art

150 West 17th Street
The Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) is a cultural and educational institution dedicated to the art of the Himalayas. Its mission is to establish, present, preserve and document a permanent collection that reflects the vitality, complexity and historical si... more
The Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) is a cultural and educational institution dedicated to the art of the Himalayas. Its mission is to establish, present, preserve and document a permanent collection that reflects the vitality, complexity and historical significance of Himalayan art and to create exhibitions and programs designed to explore connections with other world cultures. RMA is committed to addressing a diverse audience - from connoisseurs and scholars to the general public and young children. Through its collection, library, exhibitions and educational programs, RMA will become an international center for the preservation, study and enjoyment of Himalayan art. RMA is home to a comprehensive collection of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions. The collection consists of paintings, sculptures, and textiles; although works of art range in date over two millennia, most reflect major periods and schools of Himalayan art from the 12th century onward. While the artistic heritage of this vast and culturally varied area of the world remains relatively obscure, the museum has expanded its noble mission under the leadership of noted Swiss ethnologist and scholar Dr. Martin Brauen.... more

The Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) is a cultural and educational institution dedicated to the art of the Himalayas. Its mission is to establish, present, preserve and document a permanent collection that reflects the vitality, complexity and historical significance of Himalayan art and to create exhibitions and programs designed to explore connections with other world cultures. RMA is committed to addressing a diverse audience - from connoisseurs and scholars to the general public and young children. Through its collection, library, exhibitions and educational programs, RMA will become an international center for the preservation, study and enjoyment of Himalayan art.

RMA is home to a comprehensive collection of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions. The collection consists of paintings, sculptures, and textiles; although works of art range in date over two millennia, most reflect major periods and schools of Himalayan art from the 12th century onward. While the artistic heritage of this vast and culturally varied area of the world remains relatively obscure, the museum has expanded its noble mission under the leadership of noted Swiss ethnologist and scholar Dr. Martin Brauen.

Through rotating exhibitions and an array of engaging public programs, RMA offers opportunities to explore the artistic legacy of the Himalayan region and to appreciate its place in the context of world cultures. The exhibitions are organized with particular care to assist viewers who are new to Himalayan art. Wall texts and interpretive panels supply aesthetic, social, and historical perspectives to both scholars and casual viewers. The ExploreArt Galleries on the 3rd and 5th floors (with a video alcove on the 6th floor) take the viewer behind the scenes, answering questions about why and for whom the art was made. Books, paintings, photographs, artifacts, and computer terminals accessing the Museum's website and affiliated sites offer other examples of Himalayan and related art.

Enjoy a great meal at the stunning Café at RMA, whose tasteful decor and creative menu served in tranquil surroundings make for a special experience. The Cafe offers hot and cold beverages alongside the varied menu, including dishes inspired by the cuisine of the Himalayas. And don't miss a great Friday evening happy hour in the K2 lounge, with live music performance and other great events that kick off the weekend!


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Chelsea Description

Rubin Museum of Art is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. Once a mixed, low-income neighborhood on the West Side, Chelsea has become a focal point for artists and galleries. It has a wide reputation as Manhattan's gay mecca, and while that has historically been true, rising acceptance of the gay lifestyle—and soaring rents—has led to a dissipation of the community in the neighborhood. These days, Chelsea is, very simply, a bastion of affluence more than any other social status, with the conversion of many apartment buildings to condos and co-ops and the on-rush of multimillion-dollar brownstones and lofts. In the ever-northward shift of Manhattan's masses, the high prices of Greenwich Village and Christopher Street area (which has boasted a large LGBT community since the 1960s) led many to head north to Chelsea in the late 1980s. In that migration, many have already moved on from Chelsea to the northern climes of Hell's Kitchen and Washington Heights, or east to Brooklyn. While Eighth Avenue between 14th and 23rd Streets formerly had one of New York’s highest concentrations of gay-operated restaurants, stores, cafes, the population transfer changed the demographics once again—you'll find much higher concentrations in Hell's Kitchen nowadays. The Chelsea art scene blossomed thanks to the conversion of garages and warehouses between Tenth and Twelfth Avenues, and likely will become a victim of its own success. What SoHo and the 57th Street area lost in stature has been Chelsea’s gain, and almost all the well-established flagship galleries make Chelsea their base. How did it all begin? In 1987, the Dia Center for the Arts—later known as Dia: Chelsea—became one of the pioneers in the area, establishing its main exhibition facility on West 22nd Street. Ironically, after opening its flagship museum Dia: Beacon upstate, it was left without a Manhattan presence. Plans to move down to Greenwich Village and abut the new High Line elevated park were scuttled, and the Whitney instead grabbed the valuable tract that once appealed to Dia. Of course, the High Line further increased property values, thus begetting additional high-rises between Tenth Avenue and West Street, which in turn brought in starchitects like Frank Gehry and Jean Nouvel, whose creations can be seen soaring from the earth along West Street. You can learn more about these in our new architecture of Manhattan walking tour. While the ethnic diversity of Chelsea was once truly enviable, the neighborhood still remains one of only a few places where housing ranges from high-rise public housing projects to single-family brownstones to new glass condominiums—even on the same block! Some of Manhattan’s most affordable rent-stabilized apartments can be found between Seventh and Ninth Avenues. The historic district has some fine examples of nineteenth-century city dwellings, and small gardens and flowering trees abound. If you think the grounds of General Theological Seminary (440 West 21st Street) look familiar, that's because it is frequently functions as a set for the TV show Law & Order! Even seminaries have to make money, and thus G.T.S. (as it's known) demolished its former entrance on Ninth Avenue to make way for (what else?) luxury condominiums. At its Tenth Avenue entrance, G.T.S. created one of Manhattan's most charming niche hotels, the Desmond Tutu Center, named after the great South African archbishop. Speaking of hotels, Chelsea has no shortage of great places to stay and to eat. On Tenth Avenue you'll find the renowned tapas of Tia Pol and its offshoot El Quinto Pino just two blocks away. There's the upscale Cookshop nearby, and further south on Tenth Avenue you'll find the Iron Chef's Morimoto at the great Chelsea Market, also home to Buddakan on the Ninth Avenue side.

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Info

150 West 17th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 620-5000
Website

Editorial Rating

Admission And Tickets

Adults: $19
Members: free
Seniors: $14; free for Senior Monday on the first Monday of every month
Students: $14; free with school or university partnership
Children under 12: free
Every Friday, 6:00–10:00 p.m.: free for K2 Friday Nights
Blue Star Museums: Free for active-duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

This Week's Hours

Thursday 11:00am – 5:00pm.
Friday 11:00 am – 10:00pm.
Saturday/Sunday 11:00am – 5:00pm.

The museum is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day.

Nearby Subway

  • to 6th Ave
  • to 14th St
  • to 14th St -- 0.2

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