MO Museum is a private modern and contemporary art museum on Pylimo Street, close to Vilnius Old Town. Designed by Daniel Libeskind, its angular building is worth noticing before you head inside. The collection focuses on Lithuanian art from the 1960s onwards, while changing exhibitions bring different themes and artists into view. Displays can include interactive works, and explanations are available in English. Plan your visit around the exhibition currently on show; a museum café and a shop with books, prints and sketchbooks add options for a longer stop.
A museum built for modern art
MO Museum opened in 2018 in a building designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. Its angular arrangement of lines and volumes gives the exterior a strong presence among the buildings near Vilnius Old Town. The museum occupies the site of the former Soviet-era Lietuva cinema.
The institution grew from the private collection assembled by philanthropists Danguolė and Viktoras Butkus. It brings together modern and contemporary Lithuanian art, with works dating from the 1960s onwards. Artists represented in material about the collection include Kazimiera Zimblyte, known for abstract works, and Pop art figures Kostas Dereskevicius and Leonas Linas Katinas.
What to see inside
The exhibitions rotate, so there is no single permanent display to plan around. Shows have addressed different generations and themes, and the museum has presented work by established and emerging artists. A major exhibition on Generation Z, for example, brought together artists born between 1993 and 2001 from across Central and Eastern Europe. Other displays have used interactive elements to invite visitors to engage with the subject.
The museum has two exhibition halls, one large and one small. The main exhibition is on the third floor. Because the selection and scale depend on the current programme, check the exhibition schedule before visiting if you have a particular interest. The collection traces changes in Lithuanian art from the 1960s, including work made during the Soviet period and later contemporary pieces.
Plan your visit
English-language explanations make the exhibitions accessible to international visitors. A free audio guide is also available; it encourages you to form your own response to the art as you listen. The building has a coat check, and there is a café or restaurant inside for a break between galleries.
The museum shop stocks books, prints and sketchbooks. Its selection is worth a look if you want a small art-related purchase after your visit. MO Museum is a compact gallery, so the time spent inside will depend on the exhibition and how closely you want to explore it. Weekdays tend to be less crowded than weekends, and the museum recommends getting tickets in advance.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is MO Museum in Vilnius?
It is at Pylimo g. 17, near Vilnius Old Town.
What kind of art is at MO Museum?
The museum focuses on modern and contemporary Lithuanian art from the 1960s onwards. Exhibitions rotate.
Are explanations available in English?
Yes. English-language exhibition explanations are available, and the museum also has a free audio guide.
Is there a café at MO Museum?
Yes. The museum has a café or restaurant, as well as a shop selling books, prints and sketchbooks.
