Located in Beacon, New York, just an hour and 20-minute train ride out of New York City, the Dia:Beacon is a deceptively massive modern and contemporary art space housing hundreds of works from the 1960s to the present. Minimalist in nature but impressive in effect, this museum has come to be one of my favorites in the Hudson Valley, and in general.
The Dia:Beacon focuses on site-specific content and installations, but also hosts many contemporary projects and exhibitions. Some of the more well-known artists that have permanent works here are Richard Serra and Sol Lewitt. Serra focuses on giant steel sculptures while Sol Lewitt relies on mostly wall drawings that are done through precise instructions and detailed step-by-step outlines for what the drawings can be.
The museum relies on natural light to display the majority of its collection: for this reason, the Dia has limited hours, unlike other museums. But, despite the shorter hours, this natural light really makes one’s visitor experience all the more enjoyable.
Walking through the Dia can be overwhelming at times due to the sheer magnitude of its works. When walking in the basement, for example, the industrial green neon light installation by artist Dan Flavin becomes disorienting and atmospheric. Also, its super cool for a little photo shoot, as most of the Dia’s installations are.
A favorite gem in the Dia's collection is their Louis Bourgeois collection: the French artist has a small collection of sculptures at the museum on display. Giant abstracted spiders, one of her most well-known sculpture types (most famously the monumental Maman of the Gugenheim Bilboa), can be seen at the Dia.
Overall, the Dia:Beacon is a wonderfully weird and immersive museum right on the Hudson River. Whether you're just in the area or want to make a day of it, visiting the Dia:Beacon is well worth the $15 admission fee.
