Asia Society Museum in New York

The Asia Society Museum in New York showcases both contemporary and traditional Asian art. In addition, it hosts exhibitions and programs dedicated to Asian culture and society.

History and Founding

The Asia Society Museum in New York was established as part of the broader mission of the Asia Society, a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller III. The Society’s primary goal was to foster mutual understanding between the peoples of Asia and the United States through culture, art, education, and dialogue.

One of Rockefeller’s key initiatives was to form a collection of Asian artworks that would serve as the foundation for the museum’s exhibitions. In 1974, he donated around 300 works of art from East, Southeast, and South Asia, valued at $10–15 million. This gift became the cornerstone of the museum’s collection and activities.

Over the following decades, the Asia Society Museum evolved into an important cultural institution specializing in both traditional and contemporary art from Asia, Oceania, and Asian diasporas. It became a space where historical artifacts coexist with works of contemporary Asian artists.

The Collection

At the heart of the museum’s collection is John D. Rockefeller III’s gift of about 300 works from South, Southeast, and East Asia, dating from the 11th to the 19th centuries. Highlights include:

Chinese ceramics from the Song and Ming dynasties,

Chola-period bronze sculptures from India,

Southeast Asian sculptures reflecting the development of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Since 2007, the museum has also built a contemporary collection of more than 100 works of video art, animation, photography, and new media by artists from Asia and the United States.

Current Exhibitions (through 2025)

(Re)Generations: Rina Banerjee, Byron Kim, and Howardena Pindell
Three leading contemporary artists reinterpret works from the Rockefeller collection, offering fresh perspectives on Asia’s traditional art.

Imperial Treasures: Chinese Ceramics of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties
An exhibition of exquisite ceramics highlighting cultural diversity and external influences on Chinese art.

Yang Fudong: Seven Intellectuals in a Bamboo Forest
A five-part cinematic masterpiece exploring identity and the search for meaning in modern society.

Hiraki Sawa: Travels at Home
Video installations by Japanese artist Hiraki Sawa that explore memory, migration, and displacement through personal and imagined landscapes.

Interesting Facts about the Asia Society Museum

Architecture with an Asian touch: The Park Avenue building, designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes, is clad in red Oklahoma granite and features a semicircular window inspired by Asian motifs. In 2001, the museum underwent a major renovation that doubled gallery space and added a 7-meter-high atrium.

The Rockefeller Collection: The permanent collection, donated by John D. Rockefeller III and his wife Blanchette, includes around 300 works from South, Southeast, and East Asia, dating from 2000 BCE to the 19th century.

Focus on contemporary art: Since 2007, the museum has actively collected contemporary Asian art, with over 100 works in video, animation, photography, and new media.

Leo Café: The museum café offers dishes inspired by the diversity of Asian cuisines — Japanese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, and more. The menu features small plates, salads, noodle and rice dishes, sandwiches, and desserts. It has repeatedly been listed among New York City’s best cafés by Forbes.