I visited the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum for the first time this year. I have a great interest in modern art, and a great interest in modern architecture. I visited for two reasons. The first was to see an exhibition of Wassily Kandinsky's paintings, the major exhibition that was showing at the time of my visit - the Guggenheim has one of the largest collections of Wassily Kandinsky's paintings in the world. The second was to see first hand the building that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and which is considered to be one of the best works in his whole career. It was finished in 1959 and bears the name of its benefactor - Solomon R. Guggenheim.
Whilst I enjoyed the exhibition of this famous Russian painter, I was a bit taken aback with how little is actually on display at this art gallery. Supposedly the Guggenheim exhibits modern and contemporary painting and sculpture, and a visitor will be able to see the works of many famous famous and unknown artists alike. In addition to the works of Kandinsky, there were some other works on display in the main curves, as well as smaller exhibitions in various adjoining galleries. But what you actually see is not a vast collection by any means, and you can see the entire gallery in about 40 minutes. I expected more. The Metropolitan Museum of Art across the way, and the Museum of Modern Art a bit further along, both hold much better and bigger collections.
However, the architectural aspects of the building is a triumph. It’s graceful white curves dominate the Upper East Side landscape, and inside it is a triumph of light and space. A circular dome lights the vast interior gently, and the galleries spiral their way gently around and up. I found it beautiful, and very aesthetically pleasing.
It cost $18.00 to enter, as a person who is over 65 years of age. The full adult ticket price is $25.00. If you just want to get a glimpse of the interiors without paying an entrance price you may be able to do so as you loll around the ticket kiosks; however, the security people are fairly attentive and far from polite. I had lunch in the cafe there, a very acceptable and reasonably substantial salad at $14.00.
If it’s a decent collection of art you are after, this is probably not your spot.