Modern Art Insider was founded in 2023 by a small team of museum professionals, art historians, and cultural journalists who believed that museum guides could be better. Not glossier or more academic — but more honest, more practical, and more focused on what actual visitors need to know before walking through the door.
We started with a simple question: if a friend visiting New York for the first time asked us where to go and what to see, what would we actually tell them? Not the textbook answer, but the real one — which galleries are worth the crowd, which floor to skip if you only have an hour, and where to grab lunch nearby. That question became this publication.
Our primary focus is the Museum of Modern Art, one of the most visited cultural institutions in the world and the anchor of New York's modern art scene. But we also cover the broader landscape of art museums in New York, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the smaller galleries that most guidebooks overlook.
What We Cover
Every piece we publish falls into one of three categories:
- Visitor guides — Floor-by-floor walkthroughs, time-saving itineraries, and practical tips for navigating MoMA and other New York museums.
- Collection deep-dives — Art-historical context for the works you will actually encounter. We explain why a painting matters, not just that it does.
- Exhibition coverage — Previews, reviews, and behind-the-scenes looks at what the museum of modern art and other institutions have on view.
Our Team
Sarah Mitchell
Sarah spent eight years as a museum educator at MoMA before turning to full-time writing. She developed gallery talks and family programs, giving her a deep understanding of how visitors actually experience the collection. She holds an MA in Art Education from NYU and has contributed to Museum Magazine and The Art Newspaper. At Modern Art Insider, she writes visitor guides and oversees editorial direction.
James Wu
James holds a PhD in Modern Art History from Columbia University, where his dissertation examined the evolution of curatorial practice at American modern art museums from 1950 to 2000. He has published in Art Bulletin, October, and Artforum, and spent three years as a curatorial fellow at the Guggenheim. He brings academic depth to our collection coverage while keeping the writing accessible to general audiences.
Elena Rojas
Elena is a travel journalist who has covered cultural tourism across four continents for Afar, Condé Nast Traveler, and Travel + Leisure. A native New Yorker, she brings a local's perspective to our city guides and museum rankings. She is especially interested in how museums serve first-time visitors and travelers on tight schedules. Her ranked guide to NYC museums has become one of our most-read pieces.
Editorial Standards
We do not accept payment from museums, galleries, or tourism boards in exchange for coverage. Our recommendations are based on firsthand experience, and we update our guides regularly to reflect changes in hours, pricing, and exhibitions. When we get something wrong, we correct it and note the update.
Modern Art Insider is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with the Museum of Modern Art or any other institution we cover.