Noguchi Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1985 |
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| Location | 32-37 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City, Queens, New York |
| Public transit access | New York City Subway: Broadway   MTA Bus: Q104 |
The Noguchi Museum is a special place in Long Island City, Queens, New York City. It is a museum and a sculpture garden, which is an outdoor area where art sculptures are displayed. The famous Japanese American artist Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) created and designed it himself.
The museum first opened in 1985. Its main goal is to keep and show Noguchi's amazing artworks. These include his sculptures, small models of buildings he designed, art for theater stages, drawings, and even furniture designs. The museum has two floors and a large sculpture garden. It was updated in 2004 so it could stay open all year long.
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History of the Museum
Isamu Noguchi bought the buildings for the museum in 1974. These were an old printing plant and a gas station. They were right across the street from his own art studio in New York, where he had lived and worked since 1961.
The Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum first welcomed visitors in 1985. At first, it was only open during certain seasons. It was very special because it was the first museum in America started by an artist who was still alive.
Making the Museum Better
In 1999, the museum's board decided to spend $13.5 million to fix up the buildings. They wanted to make sure the museum was safe and easy for everyone to visit, including people with disabilities. They also planned to add a new area for public education.
While the museum was being renovated, it moved to a temporary spot in Sunnyside, Queens. During this time, they held different art shows featuring Noguchi's work. In February 2004, the museum officially became a public charity. The Noguchi Museum then reopened in its newly fixed-up home in June 2004.
Even after these changes, the museum building still had some problems. So, in September 2008, another $8 million project began to make it even stronger. Now, the museum has 12 art galleries and a gift shop for visitors.
Future Plans and Funding
In 2022, the museum received $4.5 million to help with more improvements. This money came from Mayor Eric Adams and Queens Borough president Donovan Richards. The funds will be used to restore Noguchi's original studio and living space from 1959, which is across from the museum. They also plan to build a new two-story building next to the studio. This new building will hold the museum's art collection and important historical documents.
The Tree of Heaven
For many years, a very tall, 60-foot-tall tree was a main feature of the sculpture garden. This tree was about 75 years old. When Noguchi bought the building in 1975, he decided to keep the tree. It was so important that the sculpture garden was designed around it.
By early 2008, the tree started to die. It was a risk because it could fall onto the museum building, which was about to be renovated. The museum hired a group of artists called the Detroit Tree of Heaven Woodshop. These artists used the wood from the tree to create benches, sculptures, and other useful items for the museum.
Museum Programs
The Noguchi Museum offers different programs for people of all ages.
Art Exhibitions
The museum often has special art shows. In 2010, they celebrated their 25th anniversary with an exhibition called On Becoming an Artist. Isamu Noguchi and His Contemporaries, 1922 - 1960. This show looked at Noguchi's early career and the artists he knew.
Other artists, like Koho Yamamoto, have also had their work shown at the museum.
Learning and Education
The museum has great educational programs. The New York State Council on the Arts has praised their Art for Families program. They called it an excellent way to connect with the community. The Art for Tots program, for very young children, was also called a "superb approach" to help kids feel comfortable in a museum.
Isamu Noguchi Award
Since 2014, the museum has given out the Isamu Noguchi Award every year. This award honors people who are like Noguchi. They show new ideas, think about the world, and connect Eastern and Western cultures.
Here are some of the people who have received the award:
- 2014: Norman Foster, Hiroshi Sugimoto
- 2015: Jasper Morrison, Yoshio Taniguchi
- 2016: Tadao Ando, Elyn Zimmerman
- 2017: John Pawson, Hiroshi Senju
- 2018: Naoto Fukasawa, Edwina von Gal
- 2019: Rei Kawakubo
- 2020: David Adjaye, Cai Guo-Qiang
- 2021: Shio Kusaka, Toshiko Mori
- 2022: Daniel Brush, Thaddeus Mosley
Museum Leaders
The museum has had several directors over the years:
- 1989–2003: Shoji Sadao
- 2003–2017: Jenny Dixon
- 2018–2023: Brett Littman
- 2024: Amy Hau
See also
- List of museums and cultural institutions in New York City
- List of museums in New York
- List of single-artist museums
- Japanese in New York City
