MoMA: 10 Top Paintings for Children

Here are 10 brilliant artworks that have great kid appeal. You will find them at the Museum of Modern Art. Plan a visit to the MOMA and let these artworks introduce the young members of your family to some of the brilliant ideas behind modern art. 

I and the Village by Marc Chagall (1911)

Chagall grew up in Belorusse, on a farm, where he milked cows, planted vegetables, and picked fruit. Later, he moved to the city, to Paris. His paintings remember his happy childhood and seem like dreams filled with imaginary animals and floating people. On the fifth floor.

The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh (1889)

The first thing you notice about Van Gogh's painting is the artist's whirling, swirling brushstrokes. They  seem to be glittering like fireworks exploding in the sky. The night seems to be filled with celebrations. On the fifth floor.

The Red Studio by Henri Matisse (1911)

Artists love their studios. They stand their paintings against the walls and admire them. They place favorite sculptures and furniture around the room. Here is Matisse's painting of his studio filled with art. On the fifth floor.

One: #31 by Jackson Pollock (1950)

This painting was painted on the floor. You can feel the arm of the artist moving back and forth, creating a tangle of drips and splashes. He walks around the painting to another side, then another, throwing thin lines of paint from a stick. No-one had ever painted like this before Pollock. On the fourth floor.

Untitled by Dan Flavin (1968)

Flavin paints colors with light, the way other artists use watercolors and pastels. His single peach-colored fluorescent light bulb adds soft color to a wall. The glow is truly amazing. On the fourth floor.

The Chariot by Alberto Giacometti (1950)

You know this chariot was built for a king, someone special, someone grand. The figure is so tall. Giacometti used bronze to create this sculpture, because it is fantastically strong. On the fourth floor.

The Three Musicians by Pablo Picasso (1921)

This painting looks like it has been pasted together, like a collage. It is playful and fun. The shapes of a guitar, hats, music and a dog make the painting look a bit like a puzzle. On the fifth floor.

Bed by Robert Rauschenberg (1955)

Why paint a bed? Well, it is fabric just like the canvas painters paint on. Not really. Actually, it's a bit of a joke, but a serious joke that asks what can be called art. On the fourth floor.

Gibraltar by Alexander Calder (1936)

Calder balances shapes that make you wonder if they are going to fall.  His work often has a bit of humor. He invented balancing sculptures that float in the air called Mobiles, and standing sculptures called Stabiles that sometimes reach great size. On the fourth floor.

Water Lilies by Claude Monet (1914-1926)

This is a very large painting of a pond in Giverny, the garden Monet created. His landscapes were designed with flowers and water, like living paintings. This painting captures a section of the water lily pond. The glittering brushstrokes make you feel the water's surface might be moving. On the fifth floor.

Here is a project for you:

Print this blog and take it with you when you visit the MOMA. See if you can find all 10 artworks. Don't forget a sketchbook. You may find some artworks along the way, you want to include in your own collection.