Modern and Contemporary Art

MAG’s collection of modern and contemporary art dates from 1950 to present, encompassing artworks created by local, national, and international artists and in an exceptional range of artistic media. This collection will continue to grow to include a broader exploration of modern art and the rise of new voices and developments in contemporary art.

Highlights

Abstract painting of kaleidoscopic lines and shapes reminiscent of refracted sunlight.
Dawn, 1957
George Morrison
Sculpture of a drawer turned on its side, the components transformed into a city-like relief.
Dawn’s Landscape XL, 1975
Louise Nevelson
Abstract painting in shades of green and white.
Seer, 1980
Helen Frankenthaler
Robot made out of televisions.
Bakelite Robot, 2002
Nam June Paik
Portrait of a woman in mixed media with rhinestones and paint.
Portrait of Qusuquzah #6, 2015
Mickalene Thomas
A still from Isaac Julien's Lessons of the Hours.
Lessons of the Hour—Frederick Douglass (still), 2019
Isaac Julien
Photograph of a large-scale shadow box filled with scanned images from art publications and vintage magazines.
Paper sculpture, 2024
Erin Shirreff
Abstract mosaic of Quetzalcoatl.
Talking Shit with the Intertwined Serpents (Mochica) (Variation I), 2025
Eamon Ore-Giron
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More to Explore

Two visitors looking at works of art in the Fountain Court Explore MAG's Collection Visitors sitting outside in the Centennial Sculpture Park. Plan Your Visit Visitors explore artwork in MAG's Docent Gallery. Exhibitions