Created by Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988), The Noguchi Museum opened in 1985, presenting a comprehensive collection of the artist's works in stone, metal, wood, and clay, as well as models for public projects and gardens, dance sets, and Akari Light Sculptures. The Museum--chartered as The Noguchi Museum--is housed in thirteen galleries within a converted factory building and encircles a garden containing major granite and basalt sculptures.

After a two-and-a-half year long renovation, the Museum re-opened in June 2004 with the addition of an education center, a new cafe and shop, more adequate handicap accessibility, and a heating and cooling system that allows the Museum to remain open year-round. Besides launching its first-ever program of temporary exhibitions, the Museum has created a special gallery devoted to Noguchi's celebrated work in interior design.

Although the renovated Museum has a fresh look, great care has been taken to maintain the original character of the building, which was integral to Noguchi's vision for the Museum. The raw industrial space of the former photo-engraving plant serves as a superb backdrop for the artist's sculpture.

The Noguchi Museum offers a variety of education and public programs that seek to introduce the work and vision of Isamu Noguchi to diverse audiences. These programs encourage the investigation of Noguchi's work from different vantage points, and support participants as they experience the artist's work from their own perspectives.

In addition to housing and exhibiting a collection of Noguchi's works, the Museum also serves the international art community by loaning works to other institutions for special exhibitions, organizing traveling exhibitions, and offering scholars access to the artist's extensive archives, including his records, correspondence, manuscripts, and photographs. The Museum also collaborates with The Isamu Noguchi Foundation in Japan.

The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum is supported, in part, with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. The Museum gratefully acknowledges the generosity of numerous individual donors, as well as support from the 42nd Street Fund, Altria Group, Inc., Bloomberg, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Con Edison, William Randolph Hearst Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, The Henry Luce Foundation, Mattel Children’s Foundation, Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund, United States-Japan Foundation, and an anonymous foundation.

The Museum expresses its appreciation for the support of Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney; New York State Senators Serphin R. Maltese and George Onorato; New York State Assembly Members Catherine T. Nolan, Michael C. Gianaris, Ivan C. Lafayette, and Margaret M. Markey; the City of New York, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg; New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn; Council Members Leroy G. Comrie, Peter F. Vallone, Jr., David I. Weprin, Domenic Recchia, Jr., Eric N. Gioia, Helen Sears and the Members of the Council’s Queens Delegation; and Queens Borough President Helen M. Marshall.