The Top Art Galleries & Museums in Long Island City

MoMA PS1 Contemporary Art Center

Long Island City has the greatest concentration of art in NYC outside of Manhattan, and MoMA PS1 is its most famous art institution and the biggest draw to the neighborhood.

PS1 has won international acclaim for its art exhibits. Yet, for a major art institution, there's real zing in the corridors, not the plain white walls of most spaces. Come for the excellent art, and keep coming back to explore this former public school turned art world star.

Recommended Length of Visit: 1.5 hours
Visiting Times:

• Thursday to Monday - Noon to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday and Wednesday - closed

Cost: Adults: $10; Students/Seniors: $5; Admission is free for all NYC residents
Where to Eat: Lounge 47 serves a great burger and is cool and comfortable for the post-art daze.

SculptureCenter

SculptureCenter showcases emerging and well-known contemporary sculptors. It's a small, experimental space, and though not every exhibit hits the Prize, Sculpture Center is definitely worth a visit.

Recommended Length of Visit: 30 minutes
Visiting Times:

• Thursday to Monday - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday and Wednesday - Closed
• Sculpture Center Events

Cost: $5 suggested donation

Where to Eat: Court Square Diner is a great local.

Dorsky Gallery

The Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Program is a 1,200-square-foot exhibition space, run by a non-profit arts organization dedicated to giving independent curators a place to exhibit contemporary art.
Recommended Length of Visit: 30 minutes
Visiting Times: Thursday through Monday - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; also by appointment.
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Lounge 47 serves a great burger and is cool and comfortable for the post-art daze. (47-10 Vernon Blvd, at 47th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101, 718-937-2044

Noguchi Museum

The Noguchi Museum is one of the best small museums in NYC. It is home to the art of Isamu Noguchi, a prominent modern art sculptor, renowned for stone work. The rock garden is a highlight, a precise corner perched in a ramshackle neighborhood.

Recommended Length of Visit: 45 minutes
Visiting Times:

• Wednesdays-Fridays - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Sunday - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Monday, Tuesday - Closed

Cost: $10/adults; $5/seniors, students. Free for children under 12. The first Friday of every month is pay what you wish.
Where to Eat: The Noguchi Museum cafe serves sandwiches and snacks.

Socrates Sculpture Park

On the East River waterfront, the Socrates Sculpture Park hosts outdoor sculpture by contemporary artists and puts on community events. The events make the area come alive.

Recommended Length of Visit: 30 minutes
Visiting Times: Open all year, 7 days a week, 10 a.m. to sunset.
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Two blocks away the Noguchi Museum cafe serves sandwiches and snacks, but the adventurous should walk up to 21st Street and then south a block or two to Roti Boti 2, cheap, hot Pakistani food. More options await you in Astoria.

Museum of the Moving Image

The Museum of the Moving Image is a jewel of Queens. It has more than enough movie and film exhibits to entertain and educate a group for a couple hours, but it's not overwhelming like the super-museums in Manhattan. Kids, parents, and hipsters will love the hands-on exhibits. Plus on weekends there are great movie screenings.

Recommended Length of Visit: 1.5 hours
Visiting Times:

• Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Sunday - noon to 6 p.m.
• Monday - Closed

Cost: Free - $5 donation asked