The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) opened its new location on Columbus Circle in September 2008, more than tripling the size of its former residence on West 43rd Street. Within the quirky architectural space explore galleries that highlight artisanship, contemporary art and design, and artistic processes, or further your own skills by participating in MAD's Open Studios: Artists at Work programs, where you can go behind-the-scenes with artists as they work on projects or give demonstrations. Passing art aficionados and shoppers also should roam the Store at MAD, which hosts a unique collection of original works and limited edition pieces by more than 1,400 artists.

Inaugural Exhibits
'Elegant Armor: The Art of Jewelry' spotlights bling in the Tiffany & Co. Foundation Jewelry Gallery, "the nation's first resource center and gallery dedicated exclusively to contemporary jewelry."

'Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary' is "a thematic exhibition that explores the reuse and appropriation of manufactured objects in contemporary work," featuring pieces like a loveseat made of shoes and a gown made of latex gloves.

Permanent Exhibit
'Permanently MAD: Revealing the Collection' "provides the viewer with three ways to approach contemporary art and design: through the work's visual language or aesthetics; artistic intention; and political, social and cultural context. Videos of artists at work... provide further perspective on each work."