The New Museum Reopens, Asking, ‘What Is Human?’

By Siddhartha Mitter for The New York Times

April 06, 2026

 The Human Frontier

My Thoughts: We are traversing into a "New Age" that feels more dramatic than the Industrial Revolution. Massimiliano Gioni’s "New Humans" looks at how technology has mutated our very definition of what is "human." I’m fascinated by the "Hall of Robots"—it’s the ultimate traverse space where we see our own reflection in a machine. We are walking into a future where we don't quite know what we are becoming.

4 Big Facts:

  • Main Points

    • The Reopening: The New Museum has doubled its size with an $82 million expansion designed by OMA/Shohei Shigematsu.

    • The Exhibition: "New Humans: Memories of the Future" features over 200 artists exploring the intersection of humanity and technology.

    • The Concept: Artistic Director Massimiliano Gioni describes the show as a "diagonal history" from 1920s robotics to contemporary AI.

    • The Transition: This milestone marks the retirement of longtime director Lisa Phillips after nearly 30 years of leadership.