The new headquarters of the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw will officially open with a diverse and inclusive program running from Friday, October 25 to Sunday, November 10. Over 100 events will take place during this period, including performances, concerts, exhibitions, workshops, and sound installations.
The opening festivities will kick off with a unique parade called the “Delegation of Slippery Matters” on Friday, October 25, at 7 p.m. The parade will begin at the museum’s former location on Pańska 3 and end at its new home on Marszałkowska 103. The parade’s creative direction is led by Bambi van Balen and Nat Skoczylas from the Tools for Action collective, along with other invited artists, and will be accompanied by a choir.
Starting on October 24, a sound installation titled “Bright Future” by Wojciech Bąkowski will activate every hour, allowing the museum to communicate with the public through the arcades of the building.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy multimedia art, such as Agnieszka Polska’s video work “Prophecy,” which will be projected onto the building’s facade. From October 14 to 27, it will also appear on large screens at the Świętokrzyska Metro station. Zbigniew Libera will present a photographic project, “Invasion of the Museum,” created during a public photo session at the new building.
As for the exhibitions, the museum will feature works from both Polish and international artists. Highlights include Magdalena Abakanowicz’s abakan “Monumental Composition,” Alina Szapocznikow’s sculpture “Friendship,” and installations by artists like Sandra Mujinga and Monika Sosnowska. These works will be on display across several floors of the museum, offering a preview of the permanent collection. The inaugural exhibition focuses on works by women, emphasizing their visibility in the art world.
The “WARSAW UNDER CONSTRUCTION” festival will present an exhibition titled “Difficult Love. Museum Between the Square and the Palace,” exploring the museum’s intertwined history with its surroundings and the city’s post-communist transformation.
For younger audiences, the “Basic Forms” program will culminate in an exhibition curated by elementary school students, with workshops and guided tours available for children. A public performance by students will take place on November 9, as part of a collaboration with Lebanese composer Tarek Atoui.
The two-week celebration will include 40 shows, performances, and installations. Notable events include performances by Július Koller, Katalina Ladik, and Ndayé Kouagou. The festivities will culminate on October 27 at 6 p.m. with a special live performance.
In addition, the museum’s cinema, KINOMUZEUM, will open at midnight on October 25 with an all-night film marathon.
Free concerts will also mark the opening. Kim Gordon, former Sonic Youth vocalist, will perform on October 25 at 10 p.m., followed by 700 Bliss on October 26, and a special concert by Hania Rani on October 27. Free tickets are required, and the performances will be streamed on the museum’s facade.
The museum’s ground floor will be free to the public, while ticket prices for exhibitions on other floors will be announced next year. New publications, including a photo album documenting the museum’s construction and a book on urban anthropology, will also be available.
