The New Museum on New York City’s Bowery reopened last week after a two-year closure and a major expansion by OMA, led by Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas. The original building, designed by SANAA in 2007, now connects with the addition through a striking Atrium Stair—a sunlit, central spine that adds drama and flow across floors.
The Expansion Details
OMA added 60,000 square feet, creating more openness while nodding to the original structure’s quirks. Parametric Architecture describes how the project brings contrast and connection into a cohesive whole. The reviewer at Cultured Mag calls it a “luxe” upgrade that feels purposeful, with the Atrium Stair serving as a canvas for large-scale works like Klára Hosnedlová’s site-specific sculpture Shelter, which hangs from lobby to fourth floor.
Opening Exhibition: “New Humans: Memories of the Future”
Massimiliano Gioni curated the inaugural show, filling the expanded galleries with over 800 objects from more than 200 artists, scientists, and designers spanning the last century. Titled “New Humans: Memories of the Future,” it explores shifting ideas of humanity amid tech changes, from Brâncuşi sculptures to AI-driven videos by Hito Steyerl and others.
Sections like “Reproductive Futures,” “Hall of Robots,” and “New Images of Man” mix historical pieces like Futurist works and war prosthetics with contemporary ones, creating dense, thematic clusters. The Cultured Mag piece praises its raw energy and how it uses the new space effectively, marking a strong return for the museum.