MoMA Presents Diego Rivera: Murals for The Museum of Modern Art

The exhibition Diego Rivera: Murals for The Museum of Modern Art reunites, for the first time in 80 years, five "portable murals," freestanding frescoes with bold images addressing the Mexican Revolution and Depression-era New York that Rivera created at the Museum for his 1931-32 MoMA exhibition. The exhibition is on view at MoMA from November 13, 2011, to May 14, 2012. The murals, which are up to six feet by eight feet in size and weigh as much as 1,000 pounds, are made of frescoed plaster, concrete, and steel. Comprising five of the eight murals that were shown in the 1931 exhibition, they are drawn from public and private collections in the United States and Mexico, including MoMA's own collection. Diego Rivera: Murals for The Museum of Modern Art is organized by Leah Dickerman, Curator, Department of Painting and Sculpture, The Museum of Modern Art. MoMA is the exhibition's sole venue.

In addition to the murals, the exhibition features three eight-foot working drawings; a prototype "portable mural" made in 1930; as well as smaller drawings, watercolors, and prints by Rivera. The exhibition also includes materials related to Rivera's infamous Rockefeller Center mural, a project he began to discuss while in residence at the Museum.

Ms. Dickerman states, "The story of this extraordinary commission for The Museum of Modern Art brings to life Diego Rivera's pivotal role in shaping debates about the social and political role of public art during a period of economic crisis in the United States."

Public Information:
The Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53 Street, New York, NY 10019, (212) 708-9400, MoMA.org
Hours: Wednesday through Monday, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Closed
Tuesday
Museum Admission as of September 1, 2011: $25 adults; $18 seniors, 65 years and over with I.D.; $14 full-time students with current I.D. Free, members and children 16 and under. (Includes admittance to Museum galleries and film programs). MoMA.org: $22.50 adults; $16 seniors, 65 years and over with I.D.; $12 full-time students with current I.D. No service charge for tickets ordered on MoMA.org. Tickets purchased online may be printed out and presented at the Museum without waiting in line. (Includes admittance to Museum galleries and film programs).
Film Admission as of September 1, 2011: $12 adults; $10 seniors, 65 years and over with I.D.; $8 fulltime students with current I.D. (for admittance to film programs only)

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