The New Museum Reopens with Bold OMA Expansion
New York City’s vibrant contemporary art scene reaches a milestone today as the New Museum reopens its doors at 235 Bowery following a transformative expansion. After more than a decade of planning and over three years of construction, the museum—dedicated exclusively to contemporary art—now features nearly double the exhibition space thanks to a visionary 60,000-square-foot addition designed by OMA, led by partners Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas, in collaboration with executive architect Cooper Robertson.
The project, which cost approximately $82 million, seamlessly integrates with the museum’s iconic 2007 flagship building by SANAA, creating one of the world’s few cultural institutions to unite works by two living Pritzker Prize-winning architectural firms. The expansion doubles the total footprint to around 120,000 square feet, introducing fluid circulation through three new elevators, a dramatic Atrium Stair, and a reimagined public entrance plaza at the corner of Bowery and Prince Street. This plaza will host ongoing art installations, performances, and community gatherings, strengthening the museum’s ties to the Lower East Side neighborhood.
Key new features include expanded galleries with aligned ceiling heights for seamless flow between buildings, a larger lobby with an enhanced bookstore and museum shop, and the museum’s first full-service restaurant—a 100-seat venue designed by Shigematsu and operated by the Oberon Group. Upper levels house dedicated studios for artists-in-residence and a permanent home for NEW INC, the museum’s nonprofit cultural incubator focused on art and technology.
The reopening coincides with the ambitious group exhibition “New Humans: Memories of the Future,” spanning the entire museum and featuring over 150 artists across generations. The show explores evolving notions of humanity amid rapid technological change, drawing from historical figures like Salvador Dalí and Francis Bacon to contemporary voices such as Wangechi Mutu, Hito Steyerl, Camille Henrot, and Anicka Yi.
Complementing the exhibition are major long-term site-specific commissions: Sarah Lucas’s “VENUS VICTORIA” in the new plaza, Tschabalala Self’s “Art Lovers” on the facade, and Klára Hosnedlová’s work on the Atrium Stair. These pieces, unveiled today, highlight the museum’s commitment to bold, forward-thinking art.
To celebrate, the New Museum offers free admission on March 21 and 22, 2026, with registration available in advance. Director Lisa Phillips described the expanded space as a “redoubled commitment to new art and new ideas,” positioning the institution as an evolving hub for experimentation, collaboration, and risk-taking in downtown Manhattan.
This reopening not only marks an architectural triumph but also reaffirms the New Museum’s role as a vital force in global contemporary art.
