Private contemporary art museum on the Tjuvholmen waterfront. Renzo Piano-designed building with a canal running through it. Strong collection of postwar and contemporary art: Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Anselm Kiefer, and Norwegian contemporaries. The building and the sculpture park are as compelling as the collection.
Location
Tjuvholmen, Oslo
Map
Insider Intel
Walk through the sculpture park first — Koons, Gormley, and others sited along the canal. The building is split into two structures connected by a glass bridge. The collection rotates but expect high-profile contemporary names. The location on Tjuvholmen means you can combine this with waterfront walks and lunch at nearby restaurants.
Afternoon for natural light in the galleries. Summer for sitting in the sculpture park. The museum is small enough for a 90-minute visit.
Opened in 2012, funded by the Astrup Fearnley family (shipping fortune). The collection was private before the museum opened to the public. Renzo Piano designed the building to integrate with the Tjuvholmen urban development. The museum is located in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Oslo — the architecture and urban planning are part of the experience. Admission price is reasonable for a private contemporary collection of this quality.