Scoop Dreams: A MoMA Celebration of Ice Cream as Art

Image courtesy: © Martin Parr / Magnum Photos

Who doesn’t daydream about ice cream in the sweltering heat of summer? At the Museum of Modern Art, this nostalgic, joy-filled treat isn't just a seasonal craving—it’s a symbol of creativity, culture, and design.

MoMA’s ode to ice cream begins with Floor Cone (1962) by Claes Oldenburg, a giant, playful sculpture that captures the essence of urban summer days. As Oldenburg once wrote, “I am for the art of ice-cream cones dropped on concrete”—a whimsical nod to how everyday pleasures become artistic expression.

The exploration continues with Thom Andersen’s short film Melting (1965), a cinematic meditation on impermanence, reminding us that moments, like ice cream, are meant to be savored before they slip away.

You’ll also find a historical gem: the original ice cream cone, created in 1896 by Italo Marchioni. More than just a dessert holder, it’s a blend of function and form, and a reminder that even a rolled waffle can make design history.

And for the design-savvy scoopers, MoMA honors Sherman L. Kelly’s 1935 ice cream scoop—an elegantly engineered tool using the warmth of your hand to glide effortlessly through frozen delight.

To top it off (literally), MoMA’s Garden Bar is serving a limited-edition Van Dough ice cream: rich vanilla by Caffè Panna blended with the museum’s own chocolate chip cookies. It’s a delicious way to cool down—and celebrate art in its sweetest form.

Whether through sculpture, film, or industrial design, MoMA reminds us that ice cream is more than a treat. It’s an inspiration.