Modern and contemporary art a feast for the eyes on both sides of the globe

Socially edgy, political or simply fun — artists broke with tradition in the late 19th century and haven’t looked back. Follow their creative paths through the cultural capitals of the world.

New York

The MoMA, often described as the most influential institution in modern art. Judge for yourself by examining works like van Gogh’s “The Starry Night,” or “The Dance” by Matisse. Don’t miss the ongoing Sites of Reason: A Selection of Recent Acquisitions, showcasing artists Sol LeWitt, Liz Deschenes and other contemporary masters. Then hop over to the Whitney Museum of Art and peruse the works of Georgia O’Keefe, Jacob Lawrence’s 1947 “War Series,” and William Eggeston, who is credited with turning color photography into an art form. Get your Impressionist and post-Impressionist fix at the Guggenheim with Cezanne, Gauguin, Manet, Monet and Renoir, just to name a few.

London

Cross the pond to see the works that stood the world on its ear at the Tate Modern. Take “Marilyn Diptych” by Andy Warhol, a symbol of the Pop Art movement. Other works include Pablo Picasso’s cubist masterpiece “Weeping Woman” and Salvador Dali’s ultra-surreal “Metamorphosis of Narcissus.” Compare the Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein’s “Whaam!” to Henri Matisse’s bold, colorful post-Impressionism. Admire the Surrealist works of Max Ernst and David Hockney’s Pop Art among the 70,000 works in the collection. See the future at MOCA London’s Project Space, where artists create sculpture, video, painting, photography and installations to their own schedule.

Berlin

Delve into the Neue National Galerie’s kaleidoscope of periods, with Expressionism by Kirchner, Heckel and Schmidt-Rottluff. View huge Color Field works by Barnett Newman, Morris Louis and Frank Badur, and Bauhaus by Paul Klee. In addition, see masterpieces by Otto Dix and George Grosz, and cubist marvels by Gris, Leger and Picasso. The Hamburger Bahnhof Museum is a treasure trove of the eccentric genius of Joseph Beuys, side-by-side works of Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, Robert Rauschenberg, Lichtenstein and Anselm Kiefer. Check out the Filmmuseum Berlin for the rich tale of Deutche Kinemathek, a German film archive.

Mexico City/Bogota

Contemplate the larger than life works of Diego Rivera, the 20th century’s greatest muralist. Begin at the Palacio Nacional de Mexico, where his “Epic of the Mexican People in Their Struggle for Freedom and Independence” dominates the courtyard. See the beautifully bizarre self-portraits of his wife — Frida Kahlo — in Casa Azul, her family home. Be sure to see the new Soumaya Museum, an artwork in itself, built by ultra-wealthy Carlos Slim. His collection ranges from Joan Miro and Dali to Monet and Rufino Tamayo. Wander the streets of Bogota, where every wall pops with colorful, expressive graffiti. Find your way to the Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogota — the largest collection of Columbian modern and contemporary art.

-Barbara Beckley, Brand Publishing Writer

For more great summer travel options, go to latimes.com/summertravelseries.

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