National Museum of Contemporary Art
Romanian art since 1945, shown in a glass wing grafted onto the Palace of the Parliament.
The National Museum of Contemporary Art was established in 2001 and opened its permanent premises in October 2004 in the west wing of the Palace of the Parliament. Between 2002 and 2004 the architect Adrian Spirescu converted the spaces into plain gallery rooms and added a glass entrance volume with two exposed glass lift shafts, deliberately set against the stone bulk of the palace. Stucco decoration was left in place in one large hall as a reminder of the building's original purpose.
The collection concentrates on Romanian art from 1945 onwards, including painting, sculpture, photography, video and installation, alongside an archive of documents from the socialist period. Exhibitions are grouped into seasons that occupy several floors at once, and the museum also runs performances, screenings, guided tours and workshops. A rooftop auditorium and cafe on the fourth floor give views over the southern districts of the city. The museum has also operated satellite spaces elsewhere in Bucharest.
Highlights
- Glass lift shafts set against the palace facade
- Collection of Romanian art from 1945 to the present
- Seasonal exhibitions spread over several floors
- Fourth-floor auditorium and cafe with city views
