Located at the intersection of Bowery and Prince Street in Manhattan, the New Museum will open its long-awaited expansion to the public on March 21, 2026. Designed by OMA partners Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas, the project marks a major transformation for Manhattan’s only museum dedicated exclusively to contemporary art, following a closure of nearly two years.
The new building is part of a 60,000-square-foot expansion developed in collaboration with Executive Architect Cooper Robertson (now Corgan), and is seamlessly connected to the museum’s existing flagship building, designed by SANAA in 2007. The expansion doubles the museum’s gallery space, going beyond a physical enlargement to redefine the institution’s functions and programming.
A First Look at the New Facility at the Press Preview
Ahead of its public opening, a press preview was held on March 18. The event unveiled the museum’s newly reconfigured spaces, with remarks delivered at 11:00 AM by Lisa Phillips, Massimiliano Gioni, Shohei Shigematsu, and Rem Koolhaas. The speakers addressed the significance of the project from both architectural and curatorial perspectives.
The expanded facility introduces a more fluid and open circulation through the addition of three elevators, an Atrium Stair, and a new entrance plaza. The enlarged Sky Room and a newly built 74-seat Forum further enhance the museum’s role as a space not only for exhibitions, but also for dialogue and experience.
An Architectural Project That Redefines the Museum
The upper floors house a dedicated studio for artists-in-residence as well as a purpose-built home for the cultural incubator NEW INC. On the ground level, visitors are welcomed into an expanded lobby and bookstore, alongside a full-service restaurant operated by the Oberon Group.
The project represents a rare architectural convergence of two living Pritzker Prize-winning architects, offering a compelling vision for the future of contemporary cultural institutions.
Lisa Phillips, Director of the New Museum, stated: “Since our founding nearly 50 years ago, the New Museum has been a home for the most groundbreaking art of today and a haven for the artists who make it. Our new 120,000 sq ft building on the Bowery signals our redoubled commitment to new art and new ideas, and to the museum as an ever-evolving site for risk-taking, collaboration, and experimentation.”
“New Humans” Explores the Future of Humanity
Opening alongside the new building, the inaugural exhibition New Humans: Memories of the Future will span the entirety of the expanded museum. Featuring contributions from over 200 artists, writers, scientists, architects, and filmmakers, the exhibition presents a reinterpretation of what it means to be human, viewed through a century of technological and societal transformation.
Building on the New Museum’s legacy of experimental group exhibitions, the show creates a platform to reconsider the relationship between technology and humanity.
Commissioned Works Where Architecture Meets Art
In conjunction with the expansion, several new commissions will be presented throughout the museum and its surroundings. At the entrance plaza, Sarah Lucas’s VENUS VICTORIA marks the launch of a new initiative supporting the production of sculptures by women artists.
On the façade, Tschabalala Self’s Art Lovers visually reflects the “kiss point” where the original SANAA building meets the new OMA expansion. Meanwhile, Klára Hosnedlová presents a site-specific installation along the Atrium Stair, extending from the lobby through the upper floors.
Free Admission for Opening Weekend
The museum will offer free admission on its opening weekend, March 21 and 22, 2026. Through music and various public programs, the New Museum aims to provide a celebratory and accessible experience for a broad audience.
Copyright © 2026 Oui Speak Fashion. All rights reserved.