There are some museums that are just made to be blockbusters. The ones that exude main character energy. That are world renowned destinations that immerse you and invite you to get lost in art. There are others that are more like genre hits, that know their niche and do it well, that serve specific roles in society and cater to specific audiences and sometimes are cult classics.Â
The Noguchi Museum fits neither of these categories. It’s an indie one that didn’t run in the main festival circuit. It is small. Out of the way. A distance from public transport in a nondescript part of Queens on the outer edges of Astoria with Costco as its neighbor. And yet, it is a gem of a museum that is well-curated and exudes tranquility that emblematizes the legacy of Isamu Noguchi.Â
Museums that are centered around one artist can sometimes be limiting or feel a bit overextended, but this one is the right size to fit the oeuvre.Â
Upon entering the museum, you’ll be transported to an intentionally composed industrial space that feels distant from urban life with large sculptures standing against a backdrop of minimalist concrete walls that offer a clean periphery to focus on the art. Indoor transitions to outdoor opening into a peaceful courtyard sculpture garden.Â
On the other side of the garden continues the indoor galleries, divided into two floors, with the first floor featuring stone works and the second floor featuring rotating selections of other works in the collection. A “floating” gallery connects the two spaces, a lofty skylit space filled with a variety of smaller works.Â
And of course, the gift shop. Where all visitors are tested with the temptation to splurge on a Noguchi lantern. Because after walking through the entire museum, you’ll want to invite a piece of Noguchi into your own home in an effort to elevate your space to this level.Â
the details
| Address | 9-01 33rd Rd, Queens, NY |
| Website | http://www.noguchi.org/ |
| Yelp | https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-noguchi-museum-astoria |
| @noguchimuseum | |
| Hours | 11am – 6pm Wednesday – Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday |
| Price | general admission is $12, with discounted pricing for seniors and students |
| Aesthetic | tranquil, minimalist, japanese |
good to know
Go here for:Â a casual art activity, a field trip to explore Astoria
Don’t miss:Â they sometimes host different exhibitions in the space across the street, also if you prefer a guided visit, they do public tours at 2pm
Amount of time to spend: an hour or two, it’s a pretty small museum, but unless you’re already in Queens you’ll probably need at least an hour for travel timeÂ
When to come:Â any time, you can book tickets ahead of time or purchase while there, weekdays are particularly quiet
Getting here: the museum is not particularly close to the subway stations, the closest being the Broadway NW station (about a 15 min walk). By bus you can get closer via the Q103/104. It’s also about a 7 min walk from the Astoria ferry terminal
Other things to note:Â
- There’s free admission the first Friday of each month, tickets must be reserved in advance.
- Check their ticketing site to see eligibility for free admission.
Last visited: May 2023
Last updated: June 2023
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