Located near Columbus Circle and Lincoln Center, the Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA) opened in May 2005 as the U.S.’s only scholarly museum celebrating art and the Bible. Incorporated as a not-for-profit educational institution, MOBIA takes no position on religion, only that the role of the Bible in literature and art is culturally profound. MOBIA organizes temporary exhibitions revealing the extraordinary diversity and richness of art inspired by the Bible through the centuries, including various media (painting, sculpture, graphic arts, mixed media, new media, etc.), styles, artistic movements and schools, etc. We believe that an understanding of biblical themes, imagery, and symbolism is essential to cultural literacy, irrespective of one’s religious background or beliefs.
Our goals include presenting an integrated approach that sets Biblical art and the religious traditions that fostered it within the context of history and social life; introducing the American public to subjects of types of art not often seen in other museums; and fostering interfaith dialogue by serving an audience of all religions backgrounds. In our educational offerings, we are committed to meeting the growing need, in the immediate neighborhood and the larger New York metropolitan area, as well as nationwide via the web, for affordable arts experiences designed for children and families, and engaging lectures and symposia for adults.
