NEW MUSEUM NYC REOPENS MARCH 21 WITH $82M OMA EXTENSION—INSIDE THE BOWERY'S BIGGEST ART FLEX

By Editor in Chief | Approved by Will Nichols, Editor in Chief | 1/14/2026

Future is #32 on the FO Pulse (2026-07-13 close), up 1 from the previous close.

New Museum reopens March 21, 2025 after $82 million OMA-designed expansion nearly doubles the SANAA original on the Bowery. 60,000 sq ft of new space includes 9,600 sq ft of exhibition galleries, artist residency studios, and New Inc. cultural incubator headquarters.

Key Points

New Museum reopens March 21, 2025 after $82 million OMA-designed expansion nearly doubles the SANAA original on the Bowery
60,000 sq ft of new space includes 9,600 sq ft of exhibition galleries, artist residency studios, and New Inc. cultural incubator headquarters
Inaugural 'New Humans: Memories of the Future' features 200 artists across entire museum; opening weekend offers free admission
Full-scale restaurant helmed by chef Julia Sherman and Oberon Group debuts alongside new commissions by Tschabalala Self, Klára Hosnedlová, and Sarah Lucas

The New Museum just swung open its vault. After a decade of planning and nearly two years of construction, Manhattan's scrappiest contemporary art institution reopens March 21 with a $82 million expansion that basically doubles everything. Rem Koolhaas and Shohei Shigematsu's OMA firm designed the 60,000-square-foot addition—a serious architectural statement that signals the Bowery is officially locked in as the city's new cultural epicenter. This isn't just more wall space. The expansion adds 9,600 square feet of exhibition galleries, dedicated artist-in-residence studios, and a full headquarters for New Inc., the museum's cultural incubator that's become its own gravitational pull for creative startups.

The real flex? "New Humans: Memories of the Future"—an inaugural 200-artist exhibition spanning the entire museum. This is the kind of ambitious, slightly unhinged curatorial move that's defined the New Museum for 50 years. You're getting new work, new perspectives, new risk-taking across every inch of the building. Outgoing director Lisa Phillips called it a "redoubled commitment to new art and new ideas, and to the museum as an ever-evolving site for risk-taking, collaboration and experimentation." Translation: they're not playing it safe.

Beyond the galleries, OMA introduced three new artist commissions for the entrance plaza, atrium stair, and elevator spaces—work by Tschabalala Self, Klára Hosnedlová, and Sarah Lucas. There's also a full-scale restaurant from chef Julia Sherman and the Oberon Group, because apparently you can't have a major Manhattan cultural institution anymore without a destination dining component. Opening weekend (March 21-22) is free admission, which means expect lines around the block and Instagram stories for days.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the New Museum NYC reopen after expansion?

The New Museum reopens on March 21, 2025, after nearly two years of construction on its $82 million expansion designed by OMA.

How much new space does the New Museum expansion add?

The OMA-designed expansion adds 60,000 square feet of new space, including 9,600 square feet of exhibition galleries, artist residency studios, and headquarters for New Inc., the museum's cultural incubator.

What is the inaugural exhibition at the reopened New Museum?

The inaugural exhibition is 'New Humans: Memories of the Future,' featuring work from 200 artists across the entire museum, with free admission offered during opening weekend.

Who designed the New Museum expansion?

The expansion was designed by OMA, the architecture firm led by Rem Koolhaas and Shohei Shigematsu, nearly doubling the original SANAA building on the Bowery.

What new amenities are opening with the New Museum expansion?

The expansion includes a full-scale restaurant helmed by chef Julia Sherman and Oberon Group, new artist commissions by Tschabalala Self, Klára Hosnedlová, and Sarah Lucas, plus dedicated artist-in-residence studios.

Topics: culture, new-museum, new museum, future