Museum of Contemporary Art
Located in the western part of Tulip Park, this museum boasts an impressive collection of modern art treasures from the period following World War II up to the 1980s, outside of Europe and North America. The collection includes significant works from abstract sensationalism, pop art, minimalism, conceptualism, and photorealism movements. The permanent collection houses over 4,000 valuable works of visual art from Iran and around the world, with nearly 400 of exceptional value.
History
During the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, architect and painter Kamran Diba a cousin of Farah Pahlavi discussed the idea of creating a museum to showcase contemporary Iranian and foreign art. Diba and his colleagues then developed the museum’s architectural design, combining modern principles with Iranian culture. The “Shahbanu Special Office” entrusted Diba with the construction project, which cost over $7.2 million for the building alone. Despite the original idea being proposed years earlier, construction did not commence until the country’s planning and budget organization provided the necessary funds. Finally, in 1356, the museum was completed and is now known as TMoCA in other countries.
Museum architecture
The museum’s design blends traditional architecture and philosophical concepts with modern elements. It took nine years to construct the building, which features a combination of stone and concrete. The exterior was inspired by the windbreaks found in desert regions of Iran. Visitors can access the museum from two entrances.
Works in the museum
The museum’s collection is valued at approximately 2.5 billion dollars and was amassed during the 1970s under the guidance of Farah Pahlavi. It includes significant pieces by renowned artists such as Gauguin, Renoir, Picasso, Magritte, Ernst, Pollock, Warhol, Levitt, and Giacometti, as well as an impressive collection of contemporary Iranian art featuring works by Sohrab Sepehri. The museum boasts nine galleries, with three dedicated to storing valuable pieces and the remaining six open to visitors, making it easy and enjoyable to explore. Additionally, the museum’s grounds are home to works and sculptures by artists from around the world, including “Therapist,” a famous piece by Belgian painter René Magritte. In the Museum of Contemporary Arts, there is a library that has more than 5,000 volumes of Persian and non-Persian books, which include various topics such as architecture, painting, design, visual communication, photography, and cinema.
Visiting hours
It is possible to visit the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in the first half of the year from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and in the second half of the year from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
