12 Top Photography Museums to See in New York City

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Text and Images by Andrew Prokos

New York City is the most important center of art and commerce in the world, and the residents of New York City are blessed to have numerous museums and foundations with world-class photography collections, all within a fairly close radius. If you are a lover of fine art photography in all its forms then read on…the comprehensive list below will provide you with many ideas of museums collections which prominently feature contemporary photography. They are listed by alphabetical order. If I have missed a museum or other important photography-related organization on this list please feel free to drop me a line and let me know. 

A list of museums with photography collections and photo-related organizations in New York City (in alphabetical order)

1. Aperture Foundation

The Aperture Foundation is a legendary institution in the world of fine art photography. Founded in 1952, Aperture is a nonprofit publisher based in New York City. Aperture supports artists through its magazine, books, photography exhibitions, public programming, sales of limited-edition prints, and the esteemed Aperture Portfolio Prize. I credit Aperture’s slim monographs of the work of master photographers such as André Kertész, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Josef Koudelka, Edward Weston, and many others as one of my first introductions to the world of fine art photography when I arrived in New York in the early 90’s. I still have those Aperture monographs on my bookshelf 30+ years later. Note: The Aperture Gallery and Bookstore are currently closed until Aperture relocates to its new location on the Upper West Side in 2024.

548 West 28th Street, 4th Floor

2. Asia Society

The Asia Society is the only organization on this list which is not strictly a museum or photography-related foundation. The Asia Society’s mission is to foster cultural understanding between the people of the United States and those in the countries of South and East Asia. The organization has a global reach which delves into the spheres of arts, business, culture, education, and policy. To that end the Asia Society location in New York does have galleries which often present thematic photography exhibitions. The latest of these is a sweeping exhibition entitled “Coal & Ice” presenting the work of global photographers dealing with climate change. You can check the Asia Society website using the link below to see what exhibitions are currently on in New York.

725 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021

Photography Galleries

3. Brooklyn Museum

Perhaps falling a bit under the radar for many visitors to New York, the Brooklyn Museum contains a vast trove of fine art photography in its collections. The Museum was an early proponent of the Pictorialist photographers, but the Museum’s photography collection was disbursed and shipped off mostly to the New York Public Library in 1955. In 1974, under the head curator of photography Barbara Millstein collecting of photographs once again commenced at the Museum. The Museum’s collection houses works by modern masters such as Harry Callahan, Larry Clark, Lewis Wickes Hine, Stephen Shore, Helen Levitt, and Edward Weston, and significant works by Latin American photographers, including Manuel Alvarez Bravo and Graciela Iturbide. The Brooklyn Museum’s collection of contemporary photographers is equally as impressive, including work by Gordon Matta-Clark, Cindy Sherman, Lorna Simpson, Edward Burtynsky, Loretta Lux, and Vik Muniz.

200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York 11238

4. Fotografiska

Fotografiska is a privately held for-profit center for contemporary photography in the Flatiron District of Manhattan. Originally founded in Stockholm in 2010 by brothers Jan and Per Broman, the New York branch opened in 2019. In 2021 Fotografiska merged with NeueHouse under the parent company CultureWorks. The for-profit museum was housed in one of the best remaining examples of a Gilded Age mansion left on Park Avenue South. Fotografiska has announced that they plan to close their New York branch in September 2024 while they search for new premises. It remains to be seen whether that actually materializes, considering the cancelation of the company’s London location and the apparently unrealized plan for a new Miami location which were announced in 2021.

281 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010 – Permanently Closed

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5. Guggenheim Museum

Exterior view of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City

A view of the Guggenheim Museum’s famous rotunda in New York City

Photographer Andrew Prokos with a limited edition print of Guggenheim Museum Interior V purchased by a collector

Photography Galleries

6. International Center of Photography

The International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York City is a leading institution dedicated to the art and practice of photography. Founded in 1974, ICP hosts a diverse array of exhibitions that explore the cultural, social, and political implications of the medium. From retrospective showcases of iconic photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson and Dorothea Lange to thematic exhibitions addressing pressing global issues, ICP offers a thought-provoking and immersive experience for visitors. Additionally, the center frequently features work by emerging photographers, providing a platform for new voices and perspectives in the field. With its dynamic exhibitions and educational programs, ICP serves as a vital hub for photography enthusiasts, scholars, and artists alike.

79 Essex Street, New York, NY 10002

7. Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses a permanent photography collection that spans the entire history of the medium, from its inception in the 19th century to the present day. Showcasing the work of iconic photographers such as Alfred Stieglitz, Ansel Adams, and Dorothea Lange, the collection offers a comprehensive view of photography’s evolution as an art form. The Met’s permanent collection includes a diverse array of styles and subjects, from classic black-and-white landscapes to vibrant color compositions, documentary photography, and experimental techniques. In addition to celebrated masters, the Met’s collection also includes works by contemporary artists like Cindy Sherman, Hiroshi Sugimoto, and Alec Soth, reflecting the ongoing evolution of the medium. With its extensive holdings and well regarded temporary exhibitions, the Met’s photography collection continues to inspire and educate audiences about the rich and multifaceted world of photography.

1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

A view of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Petrie Court by photographer Andrew Prokos

A view of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Petrie Court by photographer Andrew Prokos

Photographer Andrew Prokos signing a limited edition print of “Petrie Court Interior” for a new collector

Photography Galleries

8. Museum of the City of New York

The Museum of the City of New York is located along Museum Mile on New York’s Fifth Avenue, facing Central Park. The photographs collection at the Museum of the City of New York contains over 400,000 prints and negatives, documenting the span of New York City’s history from the mid-19th century to the present. Notable highlights include Victor Prevost’s waxed-paper negatives capturing early views of New York, the Byron Collection showcasing life from 1892 to 1942, and iconic works by photographers like Jacob Riis, Jessie Tarbox Beals, and Berenice Abbott. The Museum also presents fascinating temporary exhibitions throughout the year. My own photography of Coney Island at Night was exhibited at the Museum in 2006 in the exhibition Transformed by Light: The New York Night.

1220 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10029

Photography of Coney Island, Brooklyn at night by photographer Andrew Prokos on display at the Museum of the City of New York

Coney Island, Brooklyn at night by photographer Andrew Prokos

9. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)

Since its inception in 1930, the Museum of Modern Art has cultivated a renowned photography collection, now well over 35,000 works. The Museum’s collection is easily one of the most important bodies of contemporary photography to be found anywhere in the world. The Department of Photography explores pressing contemporary issues, including social justice, indigeneity, and the impact of images in the digital age. MOMA’s Department of Photography also hosts a range of lectures and events throughout year, such as the The Forum on Contemporary Photography. Tip: The MOMA’s Department of Photography used to review photographer portfolios on a rotating basis, but paused the submission process during the pandemic. Will portfolio reviews ever resume at MOMA? It seems unlikely, but if they do I’ll let you know here.

11 West 53 Street, New York, NY 10019

Photography Galleries

1o. MOMA PS1

MOMA PS1 is a center for contemporary art housed in a decommissioned public schoolhouse (PS1) in Long Island City, Queens. First opened in the 1970’s as the P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center to house temporary exhibitions by up and coming contemporary artists who were not receiving attention from New York’s major museums, MOMA PS1 has become an institution in its own right. The complex was expanded in the late 90’s to include new spaces and a campus-like feel, and officially merged with the Museum of Modern art in 2010, taking on the new name. While MOMA PS1 doesn’t strictly focus on photography, you can often find exhibitions by contemporary and emerging photographers presented in their spaces. You can check the MOMA PS1 website using the link below to see what’s on.

22-25 Jackson Avenue, Queens, NY 11101

MOMA PS1 Summer Warm Up party, Long Island City, Queens

11. New York Historical Society

The New York Historical Society, as its name would suggest, houses extensive collections of historical photographs relating to New York City. As first blush this may seem to be a narrow scope for any museum, but consider just how many great photographers have documented the life of New York City and you will begin to see how interesting these collections are. The New York Historical Society’s collections are so extensive that you can see them all catalogued here online.

170 Central Park W, New York, NY 10024

12. Whitney Museum of American Art

The Whitney Museum of American Art is at the vanguard of contemporary art in the United States. The museum is best known for its touted biennial, which introduces the art world to a new crop of emerging American artists every two years. The Whitney also has a permanent art collection which includes contemporary photographs. Notable American photographers included in the Whitney’s permanent collection include Gregory Crewdson, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, William Eggleston, Steve Fitch, Todd Hido, Cindy Sherman and Stephen Shore. The Museum relocated to its present ultra-modern premises, designed by architect Renzo Piano, in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District in 2015.

99 Gansevoort Street, New York, NY 10014

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