When West African states won independence they built, and what they built was aggressively modern: universities, ministries, stadiums and hotels designed to state that the future had arrived. MoMA's architecture department has gathered the drawings, models and photographs of that programme. If the Frida and Diego queue looks brutal, this is the show on the same ticket nobody is queuing for.
What to expect
Architectural drawings, models, period photographs and film in MoMA's architecture and design galleries, organised by country and by building programme. It is a reading show rather than a spectacle show, and it stays comparatively quiet even on a holiday weekend. Allow an hour.
Good to know
- Take the E or M to Fifth Avenue-53rd Street, or the B, D, F or M to 47-50 Streets-Rockefeller Center
- Included with general MoMA admission, so no extra booking is needed
- Head here first if the headline exhibition entrance is backed up
- There is a lot of wall text and drawing detail; allow more time than a painting show
- Best for architecture, design and history readers rather than young children
- Elevator access to all gallery floors
Planning Sep 4–7, 2026 in NYC?
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Common questions
Does it need a separate ticket?
No. It is included with general MoMA admission.
How long does it run?
Through January 2, 2027.
Is it suitable if I know nothing about architecture?
Yes. It is organised around national building programmes and reads as political history as much as design history.
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