Moderna Museet

Moderna Museet stands on the island of Skeppsholmen in central Stockholm. It opened in 1958 as a state museum for modern and contemporary art and design. The museum shares its building with the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design. Rafael Moneo designed the current building, completed in 1998. A separate study gallery was added later, designed by Renzo Piano. The museum also runs a branch in Malmö. The collection includes works by major artists such as Picasso, Dalí, Matisse and Duchamp. In 2005 Pontus Hultén bequeathed more than 700 works along with his archive. A 1993 theft saw seven paintings taken but all but one were recovered. The sculpture park outside features works by Calder, Tinguely, Saint Phalle and others. Temporary exhibitions range from Brassaï’s Paris photographs to screenings and live events. Inside, visitors find the permanent collection displayed alongside changing exhibitions. The Pontus Hultén Study Gallery shows selections from his bequest. Outside, the sculpture park offers open-air art by artists from several countries. The building itself, with its clean lines and natural light, frames both art and views of the city. The island setting provides a quiet space for reflection between artworks.