El Museo del Barrio

The art exhibition we attended was truly exceptional—contemporary, thought-provoking, and deeply meaningful. We spent an unforgettable day with our kids tie-dying, sculpting with clay, and immersing ourselves in the rhythms of traditional Haitian dance. It was an inspiring, hands-on experience, and we can’t wait to go back. The staff here was absolutely family friendly and welcoming. Love live El Museo del Barrio

Wonderful gallery with local artists and from around the world, the museum is not so much about the history of Harlem and Barrio but mostly a space where the expose can be presented to the public. I recommend visiting the Museum of the City 🏙️ of NY next door as well if you are there. They are in the same block but different building under same management organization. Worth to visit.

First of all, They should establish a permanent exhibit dedicated to Puerto Ricans in New York. Overall, it's a solid museum space showcasing Latino artists. While I found this year’s triennial exhibit disappointing, my visit in May 2023 left me very impressed. So I will feature those photos. The museum can be hit or miss.

I Loved Visiting This Historic Landmark.. Located in Spanish Harlem. Top of The Line Amenities With an Amazing Staff... I Can't Wait To Go Back!

I love that coat/bag check comes with your ticket. The ticket also comes with entrance to the Museum of New York City right across the street, so try to plan for time to go to both if you’d like. El Museo is perfect for a quick museum trip, can be done in 45 mins- one hour. I do wish they had a slightly larger gift shop- would have loved to get a magnet, bookmark, etc, but we did get a free pack of postcards which was great.

Great museum. The collection is small but definitely worth seeing. Everyone who works here was so friendly and helpful. It has a nice little gift shop as well. Your admission here also allows you to access the Museum of the City of New York for free which is also a great museum and quite a bit larger than Museo del Barrio. I suggest making a day of it and going to both.

There is nothing wrong with this museum, but there's also nothing special. The artworks displayed here are unique and feature different forms of art types and styles. That being said, there's not much to see. El Museo del Barrio features two rooms: an art room and a theater. The art room is self-explanatory: consisting of various paintings and sculptures. The theater lets you listen to various music/videos. This museum is in collaboration with The Museum of City of New York, so feel free to check that out as well.

This small, lovely museum is well worth a stop alongside the more well known ones on Museum Mile! At just $10 a ticket ($5 students+seniors), it's a great deal and you can also use the ticket to access the Museum of The City of New York next door. The art on display is contemporary art in a variety of media, and there are some real gems by younger artists.

Argh! The Puerto Rican community contributed so much to NYC history that I had high hopes for El Museo del Barrio. This museum has been around for over fifty years. I visited during a time where the main exhibit was closed to the public. It is a pay-what-you-want museum, but it was free because a large portion of it was under construction. The exhibits I saw included Taino (Indigenous people of the Caribbean) artwork.I also saw some artwork by Puerto Rican artists. For the time being, I'll give it three stars. I plan to return once "Something Beautiful: Reframing La Coleccion" reopens. I saw some of the collection online and thought it was beautiful. Hopefully, it will reopen soon.

El Museo del Barrio is a museum founded by artist and educator Raphael Montañez Ortiz. It is the sister museum of the Museum of the City of New York which is what I originally bought tickets for and got free admission here. It's a building covered with scaffolding so you might not recognize it. There is a lot of art and photography here that dives into Latino, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures. There was a second exhibit down the hall that didn't have much; it was a big room with some pieces of art on the wall with a bench facing a TV. It was just an okay museum and was not my cup of tea. It's not very big and I only spent about 30 minutes here total.

I was really looking forward to visiting this museum and unfortunately the reality of the exhibits just did not live to what the expectations were. I get that art can sometimes be different and have different meanings to everyone but I just did not get the deconstructed art exhibit which was displayed. In all hones they were just filling in space. We walked through the three different galleries and it just felt like it was empty. Maybe it was just me but I just did not get it. I commend the organization for having a museum to highlight Puerto Rican/latino art but I just found it to be lacking. I just did not get all the busted up furniture. Sorry not sorry!

A museum full of art by Hispanic and Latino painters, photographers, and a great look at culture. El Museo Del Barrio is one of the less appreciated museums. It hardly is ever crowded so you can usually get in any time it's open. Has all the exhibits listed in bilingual. This way allows you to see the real name of the paintings and sculptures. Buildings of museums often have a story and this one has an interesting history. It used to be an orphanage. This wasn't the first building the museum opened in though. Back in 1969 it opened in a school, P.S. 125 in Harlem. What only used to be a windowless storage room is now on the so called Museum Mile. Lots of local artists are on display. There's some from longer ago and some up and comers too. Amongst these are a few classics by Chico Da Silva. In the collection are mostly paintings but there's some sculptures too. At the entrance is a photography exhibit on education and labor. The admission is pay whatever. It's amazing you could get in free. They deserve to get something of course so pay at least a few bucks and not be an asshat like a few people. Getting through here doesn't take long so it shouldn't be one of those museums you're at a few hours. It also has a cafe so you can eat Latino food after walking around it. The museum also has films and performances in the theater.

El Museo del Barrio is located just East of Central Park not far from the Guggenheim, so one could definitely make an interesting afternoon excursion to the area. Reviews for El Museo seem to be all over the place, but when I ventured there years ago to check out the Agustín Victor Casasola photography exhibit, it hit all the right notes for me and exceeded expectations. The exhibit introduced the viewer to early 20th Century, revolutionary era Mexico during the time of Emiliano Zapata. Some of the same iconography encountered in Tina Modotti photos or Eisenstein's "Que Viva México!" (1932) appears in Casasola photos. But his work is so much more dramatic and not as surreal as most images from that era. The well curated exhibit complemented the space. The exterior of the building is a neo-classical architectural design, but the inside is in sync with what one would find in most Upper East Side buildings. Recommended.

I had a wonderful time at el museo. We went on a guided tour with Paul Lambermont, who is an incredible wealth of knowledge and a friendly guide. If you go, I would 100% do the guided tour with Paul.

I visited several museums in one day along the Museum Mile. This was one of them. Conveniently, this place is a suggested admission museum where you can pay whatever you wish. El Museo del Barrio is dedicated to Latin American art, with an emphasis on Puerto Rican art. The collection itself is mostly paintings and drawings with some sculptures that range from current artists to art from hundreds of years ago. It is not a big museum and can be seen in less than an hour.

This gem, tucked away under scaffolding along museum row, is right across from the Central Park tranquility garden and right next to the Museum of the City of New York (also reviewed). First, you should know that if you visit one of these museums, both of which are great, you get free same day admission to the other. So great value and would make a wonderful day out. You could visit both the museums, walk along Central Park, grab a bite from a local street vendor. And all very affordable or free! This museum focuses on Latinx artists. The current exhibition is "La Trienial 20/21." The art often focuses on Latinx issues, ICE/deportation, poverty, loss of culture, assimilation. COVID is featured here as well. Also a lot of queer/LGBTQIA art. So much color, so visually stimulating. Each piece is bursting with important messages, so relevant to our complicated existence in the 2020s and beyond. The space is well curated, open, full of light. Exhibits are easy to view and not too crowded. Not overwhelming. Each plaque is in English and Spanish. Not too much info, but just enough to introduce the artist and to enhance your understanding of what's in front of you. Down the hall to the right of the main event space is a stunning segue that has tile and mosaics that are over 100 years old. This leads to a light filled space with unique windows along the back wall. The exhibits here were some of my favorites. One was a digital exhibit (video, spoken word, print) all about technology and how it is biased/racist/capitalistic. I stood and watched for a very long time, and had to tear myself away. The staff are all very helpful. Another small museum that I love and will return to over and over.

Museum was okay, pretty small. Easy to get to. Staff is nice though. Id say its worth it if it is free

This review is for their theater. I came here to see a Three Kings Day performance. It did not disappoint. The event was run professionally, and the people here were very welcoming and friendly. Lines to get in weren't long but the bathroom lines were crazy. Gift shop was open, and food was being sold at their caferia. Overall, a worthy experience.

Newly renovated El Museo del Barrio on Museum Mile is a great way to educate yourself on the Puerto Rican, Latin and Caribbean 'New York' experience through art and artifacts. I came by a couple times in the last few years but as I mentioned, it was under renovations. It has been re-opened for several months and it was worth the wait. I came in on Mother's Day and all mothers had free entrance, which made it even better. This Museum can easily be done in about an hour depending on how long it takes you to look at each piece of work. The photos, art and artifacts were very thoughtful on the last centuries migration into New York. I believe we all need to educate ourselves through different mediums including art. It is one's personal expression of their experiences. This little museum is a gem of place, educating others on a large population of New Yorkers, past and present.

This is a small, but nice museum. It's open only on weekend days and offers one to two exhibits at a time. It celebrates Latinx culture in colorful paintings and contrasting black and white photos.

The gift shop (La Tienda) will reopen on Saturday (March 13). Also, the museum's hours are now 11-5 (on Saturdays and Sundays).

Nice small space, definitely worth a visit, particularly if interested in the current exhibits showing at any given time. Since it's small, suggest also visiting the Museum of the City of New York next door--admission is shared/honored.

What am I looking at? Are these paintings or prints? There seems to be texture. The images everywhere are unlike anything I've seen before. I'm confused. This was my introduction to the works of Belkis Ayón, a young Havana-based artist who took her own life in 1999. It only adds to the mystery of what was on display here until earlier this month. Ms. Ayón's medium was collography, a method of printing in which materials were applied to the printing plate. That accounts for the rich texture of her cardboard works both painting-sized and large-scale. Although Ms. Ayón was an atheist, many of the images were based on Abakuá, a Cuban religion brought from Africa in the 18th century. A woman named Sikán is featured in many of the works. The narratives are complex and not all understood. That work will be left to art historians. This was probably the most memorable exhibition I've seen in New York in the past year. Photos don't adequately convey the intensity of Ms. Ayón's talents. The small exhibition book failed in its attempts to capture these images. The El Museo's consistently poor lighting didn't help visitors, either. However, if I would return for a final visit if it were still on display. Supposedly, the reason her work was displayed in the United States at all is because of the recent thaw in US-Cuba relations. Now that the door is slowly being shut again in the embarrassing politics of the current US administration, I wonder whether there will be future opportunities to again see Ms. Ayón's oeuvre.

Each time that I visit El Museo Del Barrio, I first always take time to catch my breath for 2 reasons.....1.) It is a beautiful cultural institution and 2.) because I walk from the 6 train station several blocks to arrive at El Museo Del Barrio-lol. The front entrance is across the street from the park and their side portion is across the street from the Museum of New York. Walking into El Museo Del Barrio, I always take time to enjoy this quaint museum. The exhibits are spectacular! My favorite place is the gift shop where there is an array of items to purchase! I once saw some beautiful jewelry that I was tempted to buy.....The employees were wonderful and helpful to everyone!

The El Museo Del Barrio is a nice tribute to Latin and Spanish culture. This was my first visit to the museum to see the East LA and South Bronx street photography exhibit. While the museum is small, it's not overwhelming to walk through and really take everything in. TIPS: Save you admission receipt and you can get into the Museum of the City of New York for free with you receipt. It's right next door. Perfect Saturday afternoon.

Sadly there was not much of anything on display here in this tiny museum. I'm a fan of smaller museums because they're more manageable and easier to visit, but this museum seemed to have no clear identity and no clear themes/exhibits. Admission is suggested, but you can donate whatever amount you wish and then hang on to your admission ticket/pin because you can use it to get into the Museum of the City of New York next door. Again, sadly I didn't see anything interesting worth writing about in this review. It was funny how many security guards were in the museum, more guards than pieces of art on display!

I've been meaning to come here for a while, and finally had the time to do so yesterday. They were having an event honoring Latinos yesterday so it was the perfect day to go. This museum has a lot of Puerto Rican history, covered in their artwork and history timeline. I also came here to support the Nuevayorkinos exhibit which started off as an Instagram page where we would share our parents pictures and Stories, and now they would be part of the museum in the fall. I love that this museum gives a platform to the Puerto Rican community. The entrance was free but I'm not sure on how much it is on a regular day. They also have a cafe which serves drinks and lunch.

I went here for a private tour of two installations. The docent was knowledgeable and did a great job of pointing out details that would be missed if just browsing the collections alone. One exhibit focused on the works of Belis Ayón that was influenced by the unstable environment in Cuba. She elegantly used ambiguous figures in different shades of black/whites/greys that were merely silhouettes with expressive eyes to convey messages about her environment. The other exhibit featured works from artists in upper Manhattan. Roberto "Coco" Gaultieri, one of the artists, was there to talk about his work and experiences. He was one of the graffiti artists back in the late 60's/early 70's and now has a print of his tag (Coco 144) as a part of the uptown print section of the uptown: nasty women /bad hombres exhibit. I would come back to check out future exhibits.

After attending the current exhibit of Antonio Lopez Future Funk Fashion I'm upping the stars. The Museo Del Barrio certainly has done justice to an amazing career spanning decades. From the moment you enter the gallery your eyes are bombarded with visuals both strange and provocative. Black and white photos and colorful illustrations cover the walls. I was surprised to see his personal items included. Lots of glass display cases with tons of memorabilia. The museum had two TV's showing film clips. There is a bench so you sit to watch. If you turn to face the other wall you could watch one (or both) of two slide shows projected on the wall. It was really well thought out and enjoyable to watch. In fact there was so much to take in I need to return. The exhibit covers several rooms. I ran around the rooms viewing the pieces I was attracted to up close. Snapping so many photos my phone battery was drained when I left. If you're not familiar with his work you may want to do some research before you go. It's hard to put the totality of the exhibit into words. It was historic times and adventurous talented communities. Creative genius always moves me. It's wonderful that all of the museum donors and museum employees worked so hard to bring this exhibit into being. What a tribute to Antonio and a gift to us to be able to enjoy his work.

I wanted to volunteer and I decided El Museo del Barrio would be the perfect place for me. I attended "Radiance" the Wednesday event to check out the museum beforehand. i was able to see the current exhibit called LaBienal: Here is where we jump. I loved the exhibit showcasing 37 up and coming Latin artist! Radiance ended in a DJ dance party in the cafe. It was tons of fun and very family friendly. I began volunteering last Saturday for the "Super Sabados". The event is every third Thursday of the month. Free admission and jam packed with activities from morning until night. I helped with the storytelling, in the old 1920's orphanage theater. The walls were covered in original art. Beautiful! I helped the children on stage and they enjoyed dancing and hearing the story. Afterwards, I helped the kids making their own zines, cutting, pasting, drawing and collage. It was a blast! I loved being able to volunteer at an organization that is such a positive presence in the East Harlem community.

Today is Dia de Los Muertos! (The Chinese call it 9/9) And the liveliest place to celebrate "Day of the Dead" is at El Museo Museo Del Barrio and get your face painted! (Well, half your face.) I hated to eat and run from the Hester St. Grub Fair but there was only so much living people I can put up with and I can't miss Day of the Dead! (It is to die for....) This newly renovated museum which housed some great Latin artist's work had face painting today. My kids love it. Sorry, people with cameras are not allowed due to safe issues. ^_^

I would definitely recommend visiting this museum on Museum mile. It is so rich in its art and artifacts! It really honors Latino art and history in a different way. It's a wonderful tribute to the culture. The museum itself isn't large but it does a good job of giving you a history of the museum itself. The staff is lovely and I can't wait to see what the museum has to offer in it's coming years.

So, I didn't actually go to the museum to see the exhibits, instead I went to see Oliver! The musical which starred kids from Boys and Girls Harbor Youth and Community. I got a free ticket so I don't know how much the cost of admission was. The seats were first come first serve so we made sure to get on line pretty early. The auditorium was pretty large but it was nice to get a seat in the second row because people sitting in front could obstruct your view. The performance was great (the kids are so talented) and the venue worked greatly. I had never heard of El Museo del Barrio, I'll have to check out the exhibits the next time I'm in NYC.

This place is huge, but most of the top floors are dedicated to their Charter School, so it's just the first floor. The gallery was impressive-I really dislike those paintings of nothing, if you know what I mean. If you like something a little more modern 'n different, then definitely go here. There's tons of 3D work, videos on breakdancing, you see melting portraits of Mickey Mouse 'n Obama, portraits of wrinkled photos (interesting concept!), a ton of cardboard chain links (remember when we used to make them in school??), a huge structure made of dinner napkins, rows of pics just highlighting people's eyes, a rainbow of store bags (yes, Forever 21's yellow bag is on there!), actual skateboards with drawings on the back of 'em, etc. Can you tell by that description alone, that this museum has got tons of fascinating paintings, props and structures to look at? It's always suggested donation, and free on Weds from 6-9pm. Holla.

The museum itself is small but the exhibits are always so well put together honoring Latin history. I've visited several times and the staff is pleasant. Recent visit, I Came in to the theatre for the taping of an Amazon special for comedian Gina Brillon and it was fantastic. Arrived early so we grabbed a lattè and empanadas next door at the cafè

I loved this museum. I came here because of a project for my Spanish class. It was a great experience and I learned a lot actually. when I have more time, I want to come back. There is however a rude security staff member but whatever. I'm not there to look at his/her face but I'm there for the art

Perhaps I have been spoiled by the Smithsonian in Washington or by the MOMA in New York or the MFA in Boston, but after a grueling trip uptown from Brooklyn, I was expecting more. The museum offers free admission every third Saturday of the month courtesy of Target Saturdays. I seized the opportunity to learn about East Harlem and the Puerto Ricans in New York. The exterior of the museum is beautifully designed with ample space outdoors to sit and relax. It is also adjacent to the Musuem of the City of New York. I was a bit shocked to learn that there was only one small room for exhibitions, entitled, "Las Galerias." The gallery has a permanent collection and currently it is showing the works of Rafael Ferrer. There are some beautiul paintings, including one with plantains suspended from a string. Apparently, this is not in the French tradition of fruit paintings but actually a Spanish tradition. But you probably could have figured that out just by the fruit used in the painting. There is also a wall displaying Taino culture. They were the people that inhabited Puerto Rico, Dominica Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and the Bahamas pre-Columbian. I also encountered Taino culture in the United States Virgin Islands, so I am hypothesizing that the Taino people inhabitated much of what is considered the Carribbeans. I also learnt that from 1940s to 1970s, there was forced sterlization of one-third of the Puerto Rican woman. A hard fact to stomach. The gallery can be seen in its entirety in about an hour. I would also have to agree with other yelpers that the security guards were more overbearing than I would have liked. I was using a pen to jot down notes and I had to exchange it for a pencil for security reasons. They also seem to be watching your every move. I wonder if anything happened here in the past with the artwork or is it just cultural. Although I was not fully satiated with this museum, it nevertheless, fufilled my curiosity of the place. Check. Been there, done that. What I do appreciate is that there is a museum that celebrates Spanish Harlem*, the Puerto Ricans in New York** and the Latino community in New York. And besides, it was free =) *Spanish Harlem is known as "el Barrio." El Barrio means neighborhood. **Puerto Ricans living in New York are referred to as "Nuyoricanos." There is a Nuyorican Poets' Cafe in the LES. http://www.nuyorican.org/

A comfortable and friendly place to visit for a few hours... only one gallery is open ... but a great show(Zilia Sánchez) .... can't wait for the March 2020 show on Puerto Rican prints (Taller Puertorriqueño)

I found my twin in the Museo del Barrio. In the temporary free exhibit a few months back. Something about Latino immigrants. She was Dominican, I'm Puerto Rican... same thing, right? I did a double-take. So did my boyfriend. SHE looked JUST like me. Cuh-ray-zee! "Do you think she's cute?" I ask him. A-duuuuuh! She was my twin. Besides that this museum is surprisingly small. Security guards are ridiculously nice and informative. Admission is "suggested donation" which means if all you have is $5, give that. The art-work itself is interesting and ever-changing. All of it revolves around Latinos although, contrary to the name of the museum, doesn't really revolve around EL BARRIO. "El Museo Latino" would be more befitting. Nevertheless I love this place.

I enjoyed the exhibits there on Gabriel Figueroa. He's a director/cinematographer and the one gallery had his works. I liked this place a lot and had a nice time, but it is a smaller museum, so be cautious of that. The layout was interesting and pretty straight forward. Some actual videos and paintings were shown, along with some prints. It's a nice place to check out and you also get free admission to the Museum of the City of New York you can check out as well. $5 for students

Small museum that featured Nuyorican artists. It's always nice when I have time to stop and enjoy a museum. I think that's one of the best things about living in New York and I think everyone should take advantage of that. There is no reason to ever be BORED.

I don't find the permanent exhibit to be striking, but the performances program they have every 3rd Saturday of the month (for free) is terrific. I saw Lila Downs here yesterday and it was great. She would charge at least $35 anywhere else in the city. It was a great opportunity and I'm glad I went.

Had the pleasure of volunteering for the Super Sábado event last Saturday. This was a great Hispanic Heritage Month event and can't wait to participate next year! Check out the exhibit if you have time :)

Rude rude security guards and line took so long to get in because cashier was just chatting with the front couple for ages. Entry was only 9 dollars but given how small the galleries were it really didn't feel worth it. How can a grainy video of very mediocre breakdancing be called an exhibit.. Not worth the trip at all the museum of the city of new York is much more worth it and only a block away.

Cool exhibits! If you're sick of seeing boring paintings and statues (like most museums), fear not! You ain't gonna fall asleep walking through this museum. There's a bunch of different interpretation and modern pop art. I loved how they had "street" art like a ghetto blaster and blinged out chains.

This is a suggested donation museum. You also get a sister pass (ask for the black card!) to the "museum of the city of new york." I enjoyed this museum. Take a picture with the swirling circles towards the back. You can take pictures, but no flash. They have a coat check. I'd allot for less than 1 hour for this museum.

The best part of this museum is that a ticket includes admission to the Museum of the City of New York down the street. Part of my disappointment has to to with the misleading content, the other with general management apathy. As some other reviews note, this place is actually an art museum with two exhibits. Say what? I was surprised. I'm from Puerto Rico and came here to learn more about my own roots and about the rich Puerto Rican and Hispanic community here in New York. I wanted facts & figures, stories about immigration, urban renewal, music, food, etc. Instead, I stumbled across some modern art curtailing "the Hispanic experience" in an abstract and subjective way. That's all fine and good, but give me some context to it. I expected to get that context through either a tour or a film. However, this museum really does neither. I asked the cashier if they had any tours going; she responded I needed to reserve one 2 weeks in advance. Coincidentally, I spotted a tour in the lobby a few feet away. I asked if I could join. "Sorry, it's for employees only," she said. I felt excluded and, frankly, unwelcome.

Once upon a time, El Museo del Barrio was a magical and extraordinary place. It was the epitome of the Nuyorican culture and the ONLY museum of Puertorican art and heritage. They exhibited local Nuyorican artist side by side with classical and historic pieces, and brought the community in to the museum. The museum sponsored activities like Musica de Camara (a chamber music program that showcased puertorican musicians) and the Three Kings Parade, in an effort to be positively involved in puertorican heritage traditions and activities. That was then. Now, even if one accepts that in order to continue with it's "del Barrio" directive it had to expand beyond Puertorican culture to represent its diverse community, el Museo is an embarrassment to what it once was. The museum has been mismanaged for a few decades, and has stopped it's dynamic local cultural archiving AND developing. Sure, there are special shows, concerts and activities, but El Museo has sold out. They have sold out to expensive projects they think will revive the northernmost part of museum mile with an 8 million dollar construction project on a building they don't own, all the while selling the only building they DID own (the firehouse) to the highest bidder. They've killed projects founding Museo members dreamt the Museo would once execute. What if you don't care about what a museum does but do about what it shows? Know this: the shows are poorly curated, the artwork badly lit. I no longer frequent el Museo because that museum no longer exists... this institution posing as el Museo and throwing money at its problems is a disgrace.

We went to this small but sweet museum on a "Super Sabado", to which I add "Sensacional" (please refer to Univision). On view was an exhibit of art by Caribbean and Latin American artists, called Caribbean: Crossroads of the World. Lots of great discussion on the works with The Hulk, and I was happy to find a few pieces by Guatemalan artists. I especially loved the version of "Girl with a Pearl Earring" featuring a mulata. Several other pieces really caught my eye. Unfortunately, the exhibit was a bit too small, and this kind of art is not so readily available elsewhere. I note that the artwork, though well-curated, was poorly lit and laid out. If the Museo has undergone some renovations recently, you wouldn't really know it. The lobby is better lit than the exhibit space. Very unfortunate. After the exhibit, we decided to catch the end of a show, primarily for kids, about the cultures that existed in the Carribean (Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) before Columbus arrived. Singer/artist Irka Mateo performed Taino music with audience participation. Hulk and I joined in in repeating (screaming out) Taino words for rain, wind, and others. Ms. Mateo called a bunch of kids on stage to demonstrate "the hunting cap" and traditional music and dances. All the kids were adorable, and the show was interesting and engaging. But the theatre itself was a bit shabby-looking. Everything looked a bit "under construction", so maybe that was the problem. In front of the theatre and to your left as you enter, you can see art by neighborhood kids - they made outlines of themselves and filled them with collage, poems and just words about themselves. it was too bad that these were in a corner. They should have been displayed more prominently, in keeping with this Museum's reflection of the culture of the neighborhood. I liked that most of the people at the museum seemed local, as opposed to having huge tourist families floating about. Museo del Barrio is not on most tourists' radars, something I welcome. Just saying. Honorable mention goes to the gift shop and the righteous graffiti in the cafe. El Museo does a remarkable job, with the space it has, of covering culture that other museums disregard in favor of North American and European art. It's really too bad that in New York City, one has to go to the boros, or to uptown Manhattan, to bear witness to Latino and Black culture. The "melting pot" that NYC was supposed to be, and was, is disappearing, which makes places like El Museo more important than ever. And no, Latin "fusion" restaurants don't count. Make a day out of your trip to the Museo! Afterwards, you can stroll around the conservatory garden and visit the ducks at the Harlem Meer. For delicious Mexican food, you can visit El Aguila. Culture, natural beauty and tacos, todo en El Barrio!!!

I want to love this museum because of what it has historically represented for the Nuyorican community but I went a few weeks ago and there was just one exhibit (they were preparing for an upcoming show) and it just felt underfunded and under resourced. I want this museum to reach the glory it had in the 90's! There is so much potential here but until they get some more work, it's probably best to visit the Museum of the City of NY just across the street.

El Museo Del Barrio reopened this weekend with an open house celebration after undergoing significant renovations. El Museo now looks nicer, but it's still a relatively small museum. Based on signage, it seems like there will be an additional floor of exhibition space soon, though this seems at odds with information on the website. Unfortunately, some of the criticisms found in other review still hold. The security guards seem overly hover-y compared to other museums; there are even lines on the floor designating how close you can get to the art because I guess visitors are not to be trusted. This is indeed annoying. Why four stars, then? Really the question should be why not five. El Museo does a great job of being engaging and relevant. I like the fact that contemporary artists have always been part of the mix here. Oh and at six bucks, it's also a pretty cheap date! I also like that El Museo covers very neglected ground on our cultural landscape. As a result, its exhibits can be so much fresher and more exciting than what you'll often see in our city's other museums. And yes, they sometime fall short. A few years ago El Museo had an excellent exhibit focusing on "The Disappeared": the victims of the trend of widespread political kidnappings and murders in Central and South America in the second half of the twentieth century. One of the artists dealt with the topic by showing middle school students, some of whom would later work in the government, and some of whom would later disappear myseriously never to return. Haunting and sad. So glad that this museum is here. Last night at the opening there was Soledad O'Brien showing bits of her new documentary Latino in America, which was surprisingly eye-opening. There were also bright new exhibit areas highlighting the influence of Latino artists foment of NYC in the pre World War II era, but just as importantly there was lovely art. Some more contemporary items particularly struck my fancy, particularly an elaborately decorated bed an artist made to honor the deceased housekeeper who had helped raise him...but that really celebrated his childhood which died long before her. So glad this museum is here.

The northernmost of the art institutions that line Fifth Avenue's Museum Mile, this is the only one in the country dedicated to the art and cultures of Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and Latin America. A gift shop offers a nice selection of jewelry, crafts, books, and music.

The Museo used to be know as the Puerto Rican Museum but the art here encompasses the entire Latin American Art Scene both new and old. The openings also can not be beat! They are usually a big party full of dancing, drinking and art. Can you ask for more? There is a show up now featuring Dominican artist that you shouldn't miss. I find the Museo to be one of the most refreshing museums in NYC.

Really, Really, Really didn't like museum. I thought it would have been a 100 times better, but it really failed in my expectations for it. The "art" was scarce. I think they could really make better use of their space. I thought they would have some things regarding the culture of el Barrio, how it developed, where the people came from, etc. So many people who live in El Barrio are Puerto Rican so I expected to see more things about Tainos, but all I saw was one, maybe 2 things regarding that group. The girl at the main desk never told us it was a suggested price and so we ended up paying the full price which was even more upsetting considering we didn't like what we saw. Only reason why I gave it 2 stars was because it was air conditioned and I was in desperate need of some AC as it was so hot outside. I won't be going back..ever!

This has been one of my favorite spots in all of NY. Their exhibits are always so interesting and new. This is defintley a must stop in NYC.

This museum was small (only one gallery) and its a suggested donation only - yeah you'll get a look if you give a dollar, but really its not too bad. The artwork was pretty cool, but the description only had about the artist rather than the art, which I'd rather know about a little bit of both. Has an English and Spanish version. If you have time, pop in, but if you don't, don't make the trip up for it.

I give the three stars in memory of the Museo's Rich prior history. I went 2 weeks ago with my Puerto Rican in-laws and what a disappointment. No curator or tours on a Saturday, and all the attention seem to be geared towards a private function where they had rented out the auditorium. The café looks really cute and trendy. Don't fall for this trap. We waited half an hour for a grilled cheese sandwich and a salad. We ultimately had to cancel the order. Looks like this is where they make a lot of their income now, as there is a showcased bar and lots of alcohol. Is this part of the Latino culture tribute ?? Please bring back the original authentic and vibrant Museo.

I thought this was going to be really cool. I've been wanting to go a long time and so today, on the 3rd Saturday (when it's free...normally $9) we went. The museum looks impressive from the outside but the art is in a tiny space. The whole thing maybe took us 30 minutes. I kept trying to find another gallery somewhere...no such luck. It was a small collection of somewhat odd, contemporary feeling art. I didn't really see the reference to El Barrio. I guess the pieces were done by Hispanic artists? There were two things I found interesting. I've never gone through a whole art museum in such a short time. Maybe some people like this stuff...it wasn't for me or my husband. We were glad we didn't pay. And then we went to the Met.