The Bronx Museum of the Arts

The Bronx Museum of the Arts is a contemporary art museum at 1040 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, a short walk from Yankee Stadium. Its exhibitions focus on artists connected to the borough and on diverse cultural perspectives, with works that can touch on social and political themes. The modern building is worth a look, too. Admission is free. Renovations have limited the gallery space, so check the museum’s website before setting out to see what is currently open.

Art shaped by the Bronx

Founded in 1971, the museum grew from efforts to make art accessible in the Bronx and celebrate the borough’s local culture. Its focus remains contemporary and 20th-century art, with attention to artists connected to the Bronx and to communities often underrepresented in museums.

The permanent collection includes works across several media, including paintings, photographs, sculptures and works on paper. Temporary exhibitions bring in additional artists and subjects, so the displays change over time. Check the museum’s website for current exhibition details before your visit.

A modern building on the Grand Concourse

The museum stands on the Grand Concourse in the Concourse neighborhood. Its modern design combines stone and glass, and visitors have described the building’s structure as a point of interest in its own right. Inside, gallery displays have included contemporary work as well as art connected to Bronx culture, including an exhibition drawing on the 1980s and its graffiti and music imagery.

The museum’s exhibitions can address political and social themes. Take time with the context provided alongside the works; it can help explain the ideas behind pieces that might otherwise be easy to pass quickly.