Modern Art Museum of Yerevan: what to know before visiting

The Modern Art Museum of Yerevan focuses on modern and contemporary art, with Armenian artists at the heart of its collection. Founded in 1972 by art critic Henrik Igityan, who directed it for 37 years, it describes itself as the first specialized modern and contemporary art museum in the former Soviet Union.

The first exhibition consisted entirely of work donated by Armenian artists of the 1960s, including artists living in Armenia and in the diaspora. The museum identifies works by Minas Avetisyan, Ashot Hovhannisyan, Martin Petrosyan, Hakob Hakobyan, Gayane Khachatryan, Vruyr Galstyan, Rudolf Khachatryan and Ashot Bayandur as the core of the display.

Donations later expanded the collection to include artists of the 1980s, later Armenian artists and foreign artists. Notable gifts include works by American-based painter and sculptor Emil Kazaz, given by benefactor Grigor Muradyan in 2004, and sculptures by Canada-based artist Karen Petrosyan, donated by the Kapan Copper-Molybdenum Combine in 2010.

The museum is at 7 Mesrop Mashtots Avenue, Yerevan 0002, Armenia. Its official contact page includes a map for that address. From Bonjour Boutique, a three-star hotel, the museum is about a four-minute walk or a two-minute drive.

The National Gallery is an art-focused stop in the city centre, and the museum’s location makes it possible to plan a wider itinerary around central Yerevan.

The Republic Square and National Gallery of Armenia guide covers another art and city-centre stop.

The museum is closed on national holidays and memorial days. The ticket office closes at 17:30, and the museum closes one hour earlier on days before holidays. Hours and prices can change, so check the official site before you go.

Opening hours

• Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00–18:00
• Monday: closed

Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.

Main-exhibition admission costs 1,500 AMD for adults, 1,000 AMD for students and 500 AMD for schoolchildren. Preschool children, pensioners, compulsory military service members and some other categories receive free admission to the permanent exhibition; these include people in specified disability categories and ICOM and ICOMOS members. Permanent-exhibition admission is also free on the last Saturday of each month.

Guided tours cost 2,000 AMD in Armenian and 4,000 AMD in English or Russian. The museum asks you to register in advance for a tour. Its published contact numbers are +374 10 535567 and +374 10 535359, and its email address is yerevanmodernartmuseum@gmail.com.

AriTes reports that the entrance and interior have no thresholds or stairs, allowing independent access to the exposition. Mus.am reports that the museum has Wi-Fi, a restroom and a souvenir shop, but no café or parking.

The museum gives an art-focused visit a clear starting point; you can then plan other Yerevan stops around your interests. The Cascade and the Cafesjian Center for the Arts, at 10 Tamanyan Street, are also art-related places in Yerevan.

For a broader day on foot through the city centre, the one-day Yerevan walking route offers another way to structure the day.