Street Art Museum in NYC, a Hidden Gem!
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New York City is home to famous museums, parks, entertainment venues and restaurants, all worth seeing. But, if you’re looking for something that exemplifies the heart of New York without big crowds, add the street art museum to your list!
Related: A Beginner’s Guide to New York City
Officially called the Museum of Street Art (MoSA), it is located inside the citizenM New York Bowery Hotel. While it’s a bit hard to find (at least without great directions), it’s worth the effort to get there.
What is the Street Art Museum?
Street art, which many erroneously lump in with graffiti, is a style of art that is celebrated in major cities across the world, including New York City. Like Picasso used a brush, street artists use aerosol cans to create statement pieces, often to highlight cultural issues or values.
As areas where street art flourishes are being demolished and gentrified, having a place to preserve and highlight the art becomes more important. So, citizenM offered space to 5pointzcreates to develop a street art museum. It took 2.5 years, 520 cans of paint, 420 hours of painting by 21 artists (5 female) to bring the Museum of Street Art to life.
The Museum of Street Art is housed in an unusual space, the stairwell of the citizenM Hotel at 189 Bowery, New York, NY. Beginning on the 20th floor of the hotel, consider it a “vertical love letter” to New York City, especially the Bowery District. From the moment you step into the stairwell to the end of your descent, every corner reveals something new, thought provoking and inspiring.
When the museum first opened, guests could add to the artwork with provided chalk. The chalk is gone, so bring a piece or two with you to add to the museum on your way out.
As the museum exists inside a 20 story stairwell, it is not accessible to those with mobility impairment, which is unfortunate. But, other than that, it’s simply incredible.
Plan your visit to the Museum of Street Art in New York
- The Museum of Street Art is located within the citizenM Hotel at 189 Bowery, New York, New York.
- Hours are Noon to 10 p.m.
- Admission is FREE!
The hotel is located within a couple blocks of several Metro stops near the northeast corner of Kenmare Street and Bowery.
The hotel is set back from the street with an urban courtyard out front. Head inside and stop at the front desk for directions to the museum. You’ll take the elevator to the 20th Floor and then walk down the stairs, immersing yourself in the experience.
Allow anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to take it all in. We spent about an hour making our way through the museum, studying some of the artwork more closely than other pieces, but marveling at just about every turn.
After your museum visit, stop by canteenM for snacks or drinks and soak in that Bowery vibe before you head out to explore more. If visiting later in the day, head back upstairs to cloudM, the rooftop bar, for drinks and spectacular views of New York City. You must be 21+ with valid ID to enter cloudM.
TL/DR: Museum of Street Art, NYC
The Museum of Street Art spans 20 stories at the citizenM Hotel. From top to bottom, each piece is as unique as the artist. The pieces inspire thought, challenge perceptions and encourage us to see the beauty in the world differently.
- ADDRESS: citizenM Hotel, 189 Bowery, NYC
- DIRECTIONS: Metro, get off at Bowery stops and walk to the hotel located between Kenmare and Spring Streets
- HOURS: Noon to 10 p.m. daily
- ADMISSION: FREE!
- CHECK IN: Go to front desk in the hotel lobby to check in. No large bags, but they will hold yours if needed. They will direct you to the elevators that will take you to the 20th floor where the museum begins.
I highly recommend the street art museum for your New York vacation, especially if you’re visiting nearby (Chinatown isn’t far). And, it’s free — talk about budget travel ideas!
While I have shared many photos of the artwork, there is so much more to see!