Musée d'art moderne et d'art contemporain de Nice

About the museum

The idea of a museum of modern art in Nice goes back to the late 1940s. It was revived in the mid-1970s with the opening of the contemporary art gallery and the contemporary programme of the Galerie des Ponchettes. The 1985 exhibition “Autour de Nice”, which brought together Nouveau Réalisme, the École de Nice and Supports/Surfaces, strengthened the museum project.

A five-year agreement between the city and the state funded an acquisitions programme, and then the architectural project, entrusted to Yves Bayard and Henri Vidal. The museum opened on 21 June 1990. The building follows classical principles, with a square plan and arcades. It rises on four towers linked by glass walkways, above the covered Paillon on the Promenade des Arts. A rooftop terrace houses Yves Klein's Mur de Feu.

The collections cover American and European art from the 1960s to the present, with holdings devoted to Nouveau Réalisme, Pop Art and the École de Nice. In 2001 Niki de Saint Phalle made a donation that constitutes one of the most important bodies of her work in Europe.

The museum closed on 7 January 2024 for works linked to the second phase of the Promenade du Paillon. Pending its reopening, which the tourist office has announced for 2028, an off-site programme presents works in other venues in Nice.

Highlights

• Collection of Nouveau Réalisme and Pop Art
• Works by Yves Klein, including the Mur de Feu on the terrace
• Important holdings of Niki de Saint Phalle's work
• Architecture of four towers linked by glass walkways
• Off-site programme during the closure

Founded

1990

Operated by

Ville de Nice

Visitors per year

approx. 163,803

Admission & discounts

The museum is closed for works; reopening is announced for 2028.

Accessibility

The museum is closed for works; reopening is announced for 2028.

Kids & families

The museum is closed for works; reopening is announced for 2028.

Getting there & parking

The museum is closed for works; reopening is announced for 2028.

Amenities & dining

The museum is closed for works; reopening is announced for 2028.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 219 guests.

The Jean-Étienne Marie auditorium, with 219 seats and equipped for screenings, can be rented to third parties for cultural events.

Plan your visit