Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Contemporary Art
4
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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4.0
30 reviews
Excellent
12
Very good
10
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Mark P
Swampscott, MA2,475 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
This museum has no admission, although the $5 suggested donation is a bargain. It features very new works of art, some of which are pretty great, and some of which are not. For reasons that are not entirely clear to me, the MOCAD has presented a strong group of video features over the years.
Written 23 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg D
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI253 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
We visited during the DELECTRICTY event. I just moved back at the time and was completely blown away by this new gem. SO glad there is a place like this in our city. They are doing great things and are really on the edge of what is happening in the art world. Also have a full bar AND you can get food.
Written 31 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charles D
Omaha, NE513 contributions
May 2018
My wife and I found the Museum of Contemporary Art while exploring the area around the Art Institute. It is a big space but with seemingly only one gallery and one exhibit. Mind you, the exhibit was massive, but we hoped for more. We look forward to more when next we visit.
Written 28 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StockholmKindaGuy
Marietta, GA7,171 contributions
Jul 2017 • Solo
The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, like many contemporary art museums, serves up ever changing art exhibitions, rather than depend on a permanent collection.
The museum has no entry fee, but a $5 donation is suggested. I would encourage everyone to give something.
The exhibitions I've seen here have varied. Most I've enjoyed. The two current exhibitions were not as strong as others I've seen and my rating only reflects what's currently on display. While there were a few pieces in the ".99¢ Or Less" exhibition that I enjoyed, overall I wasn't impressed. Irregardless, it's always good to be exposed to new artists and thinking.
I like that MOCAD is housed in a reclaimed industrial space that feels right with contemporary art. There's free parking behind the museum. MOCAD also has a small gift shop and nice cafe.
The museum has no entry fee, but a $5 donation is suggested. I would encourage everyone to give something.
The exhibitions I've seen here have varied. Most I've enjoyed. The two current exhibitions were not as strong as others I've seen and my rating only reflects what's currently on display. While there were a few pieces in the ".99¢ Or Less" exhibition that I enjoyed, overall I wasn't impressed. Irregardless, it's always good to be exposed to new artists and thinking.
I like that MOCAD is housed in a reclaimed industrial space that feels right with contemporary art. There's free parking behind the museum. MOCAD also has a small gift shop and nice cafe.
Written 29 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark P
Swampscott, MA2,475 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
This is a terrific, though small museum. The art is contemporary, which means that exhibitions are hit or miss. Such is the nature of contemporary art. But it is well worth a visit, particularly since there is no admission fee, though there is a very reasonable $5 suggested donation.
Make sure to visit the Mike Kelly House, which is on the grounds of the museum. It is a good venue for shows, and is of historical significance as the childhood home of the Michigan artist by that name.
Make sure to visit the Mike Kelly House, which is on the grounds of the museum. It is a good venue for shows, and is of historical significance as the childhood home of the Michigan artist by that name.
Written 29 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephanie L
Toledo, OH47 contributions
Nov 2016 • Friends
Being an artist and a patron of the arts myself, it is rather painful to write this review, but it is nonetheless the truth. The building is beautiful, but as you begin to navigate into the galleries, there comes a realization of how shockingly sparse the art-to-space ratio is within the three galleries of the MOCAD. A good portion of the building is casual social space and a eatery/bar.
Although there is inevitably a degree of subjectivity of interpreting contemporary art, the overall quality of the exhibitions were generally unfocused, and the artist statements were not fully crystallized– it was very much lost BFA musings from dilettantes. For me, it did not induce critical thinking. For contemporary art, I would recommend the trip to the Contemporary Art Museum in Chicago, where a day can be spent viewing and thinking about focused, strong visions in various galleries instead of a 15 minute walk-through at the MOCAD.
Additionally, one of the speakers was broken in the film room and it was impossible to hear the films. We brought it an employee's attention, and he said it was an ongoing "technical difficulty". This is rather shameful for the filmmakers who have worked hard to create their art and have it displayed in a presumably professional setting.
Although there is inevitably a degree of subjectivity of interpreting contemporary art, the overall quality of the exhibitions were generally unfocused, and the artist statements were not fully crystallized– it was very much lost BFA musings from dilettantes. For me, it did not induce critical thinking. For contemporary art, I would recommend the trip to the Contemporary Art Museum in Chicago, where a day can be spent viewing and thinking about focused, strong visions in various galleries instead of a 15 minute walk-through at the MOCAD.
Additionally, one of the speakers was broken in the film room and it was impossible to hear the films. We brought it an employee's attention, and he said it was an ongoing "technical difficulty". This is rather shameful for the filmmakers who have worked hard to create their art and have it displayed in a presumably professional setting.
Written 20 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StockholmKindaGuy
Marietta, GA7,171 contributions
Jun 2016 • Solo
Nancy Mitchnick's "Uncalibrated" is another strong offering from MOCAD. The exhibition features work from a talented member of Detroit's Cass Corridor movement of the 70's, artist Nancy Mitchnink.
Her large, primarily urban canvases of Detroit, are given plenty of room to breathe in this exhibition. Giving them more visual impact. I like how she contrasts a brighter color palette with a not always bright subject featuring Detroit homes. Her canvases have just the right amount of detail and color, that gives the work a freshness and perhaps a sense of hopefulness for her hometown.
I really enjoyed the work of this local artist. Nice show.
Museum of Contemporary Art has a nice cafe and free parking on the back side of it's building. They also have a small gift shop. Admission is $5, a small price to pay.
Her large, primarily urban canvases of Detroit, are given plenty of room to breathe in this exhibition. Giving them more visual impact. I like how she contrasts a brighter color palette with a not always bright subject featuring Detroit homes. Her canvases have just the right amount of detail and color, that gives the work a freshness and perhaps a sense of hopefulness for her hometown.
I really enjoyed the work of this local artist. Nice show.
Museum of Contemporary Art has a nice cafe and free parking on the back side of it's building. They also have a small gift shop. Admission is $5, a small price to pay.
Written 18 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RVcornell
Toronto, Canada294 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
Granted, I am not from Detroit, so maybe that is why I don't get much of the work that was there.
I have been told that this place has some awesome exhibitions, so I was a little put off by what was going on, and I am pretty open. Maybe this was an off show and I need to go back another time.
This is a beautiful space! It is quite large, giving it the opportunity to house some impressive shows. Although I was not a fan of what was going on, I am glad to see that they are taking on some non-traditional work and making it accessible to the public as it is sure to inspire someone walking through.
I have to go back to see what's next.
I have been told that this place has some awesome exhibitions, so I was a little put off by what was going on, and I am pretty open. Maybe this was an off show and I need to go back another time.
This is a beautiful space! It is quite large, giving it the opportunity to house some impressive shows. Although I was not a fan of what was going on, I am glad to see that they are taking on some non-traditional work and making it accessible to the public as it is sure to inspire someone walking through.
I have to go back to see what's next.
Written 20 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melanie C
Brooklyn, NY35 contributions
Jun 2015
Great space to view contemporary art, and/or grab a bit to eat. Entry is free, so if you are open to a new experience why wouldn't you stop in? Make sure you go by the Mobile Homestead out back (past the parking lot). There is an artist residency program there, and you can meet and speak with local artists.
Written 4 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark P
Swampscott, MA2,475 contributions
Nov 2014 • Family
The Museum of Contemporary Art is edgy, avant grade and pretty wonderful. While not all of its exhibits work-nor should they, as this museum takes chances on art and artists not showcased at mainstream museums, enough is wildly successful to make a trip here easily worthwhile. The People's Biennial is a great concept with some remarkable work, and the video installation Street
Cat Deluxe is, by itself, worth the $5 suggested donation. The Mike Kelly
House adds a nice dimension too.
Cat Deluxe is, by itself, worth the $5 suggested donation. The Mike Kelly
House adds a nice dimension too.
Written 29 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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