Art is soul food, it stimulates the mind, and it brings people together. Everyone should go to a museum at least once in their lives, and when they do, here are seven of the most famous art pieces to look for!

Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa, the most famous painting to date, is currently housed in the Musee du Louvre. Throughout the year, crowds of people gather around this surprisingly small painting in Paris, France, to admire this legendary work by Leonardo da Vinci. This painting, which dates from the early 1500s, is known for the depicted woman’s cheeky, mysterious smile and for being one of the first portraits to focus on the upper half of a sitting portrait.

Starry Night

One of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous paintings and a reason to visit New York City’s Museum of Modern Art. It’s known for its vibrant colors and bold, yet articulate brushstrokes. This painting creates a dreamy twilight atmosphere that grows more beautiful with each passing second. Despite its small size, this painting has a huge impact and reach.

The Last Supper

The original “renaissance man,” Leonardo da Vinci, appears twice on our list. The Last Supper is depicted in exquisite detail in this work. It depicts Jesus and his disciples at their last supper. It is one of the most well-known works of art from the Renaissance period, and it was created at a time when spiritual imagery was prominent in the art world. This painting is enormous, which makes it appear even more impressive to the viewer. It is located in Santa Maria Delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.​​

Related: When talking about art, let’s have a laugh and take a look at hilarious celebrity caricatures.

Girl with a Balloon

Banksy is one of the most well-known street artists in the world. “Girl with Balloon” was originally painted on London’s Waterloo Bridge, but it has since been removed, but the street mural lives on through prints and merchandise. A framed version of the work was recently shredded during an auction, thanks to a secret device hidden in the frame by Banksy beforehand. The print’s value skyrocketed as a result of the spectacle. This is without a doubt one of the most well-known works of art of our time. Banksy’s work gives people a voice in today’s world. He is one of the few artists who has managed to maintain his anonymity while achieving such fame while still being young and alive. A true one-of-a-kind artist is known for making bold statements and upholding the belief that art should be accessible to all.

The Scream

The National Museum in Norway currently houses this classic painting by Edward Munch. Because there are only two copies of this work, it is unique. It’s famous for its androgynous figure, which is said to have been inspired by a sensory overload experience Edward Munch had. As a result, the scream is caused by the all-consuming nature of the individual’s surroundings, not by the human depicted. It’s morbidly beautiful and one of the world’s most famous works of art.

Guernica

Picasso produced some of the greatest works of art ever created. His famous artwork can be found in numerous galleries and museums around the world. “Guernica,” a 1937 oil painting, is one of his most well-known works. In the aftermath of a bombing in Spain, Picasso painted this in Paris. Its anti-war message and depiction of widespread suffering have moved art critics. Its dark grey and white tones, as well as its massive size, convey a sense of foreboding that contributes to the piece’s strong emotional pull. It is currently on display at Museo Reina Sofia.

Bicycle Wheel

One of the world’s most famous sculptures doesn’t even resemble a typical sculpture. Marcel Duchamp created “Bicycle Wheel” in 1951. It’s just a wooden stool with a metal wheel mounted in the center. He combined these two utilitarian objects to create a work of art that is now regarded as a masterpiece. This piece exemplifies the notion that art can take on any form. It can be haphazard, simple, and uninteresting. This daring approach sparked a cultural shift, challenging the masses to unlearn the idea that art must look, be, or feel a certain way in order to be called art.