MoMA Examines Artists' Turbulent Relationship with Museums

Kynaston McShine curated an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York featuring sixty-two artists exploring the tumultuous relationship between artists and the museum institution throughout the 20th century. The show ran from March 14 to June 1, 1999. Works included photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson depicting the museum as a social space, artist-designed benches, merchandise, drawings, and audio-guided walks blending tour commentary with ambient museum sounds. Despite its critical premise, the exhibition largely reproduced the aesthetic favored by museums rather than offering a critical reading, except for works that remained superficial in their critique.