You can absolutely visit Moco London on your own – wander, snap photos, argue about what is and isn’t art – but chatting to someone who works there changes how you see everything. We got the goss, so you’re ready before you even arrive.
We spent time with Sofia Ramirez, one of Moco’s Visitor Experience Hosts. She’s the kind of person who knows the collection inside out, but still lights up when talking about it. It felt less like a tour and more like museum gossip: favourites, funny questions, blink-and-you’ll-miss-them details and a few celebrity stories thrown in for good measure.
Get ready for:
- Meet the Moco insider
- Sofia’s favourite artworks
- What it’s really like to work at Moco
- The questions visitors always ask
- Little details people often miss
- Celeb visitors & the Pink Room
Meet Sofia: our Moco insider
Name: Sofia Ramirez
Role: Visitor Experience Host
Experience: Art Management Degree
“Most of my knowledge comes from personal interest and working here you’re learning constantly. Listening to other tours, learning from people who come from other museums – even the visitors teach you things.”
It shows. Her knowledge feels genuine and engaging rather than scripted, which suits Moco’s accessible, anything-goes approach to art perfectly.
Everyone say "Hi Sofia!"
Sofia’s favourite artworks at Moco London
Reluctant to pick just one, understandably, Sofia’s got a stash of faves for us.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
A firm favourite. Expressive, political and impossible to ignore.
We totally get it. There’s just so much energy in Basquiat’s work. “People often stand in front of it for longer than they expect to – you keep noticing new details, new meanings, new symbols.”
She points out how his pieces invite interpretation rather than giving you a clear answer, which is part of the appeal.
Julian Opie
Clean, minimalist and instantly recognisable, these pieces turn everyday movement into bold, almost hypnotic visual storytelling.
“At first you just see these simple figures, but there’s so much movement in something so minimal.”
These are pieces that quietly draw you in. The clean lines feel simple, but the longer you look, the more energy and emotion you start to pick up on.
Jeff Koons – The Egg
The most expensive artwork in the museum (around £8 million). Festive? Yes. Subtle? Absolutely not.
Sofia smiles: “It’s definitely one of those pieces people react to straight away. Some love it, some don’t – but everyone has an opinion.”
Bold, glossy and impossible to miss, it leans fully into Koons’ signature style. Love it or not, it’s a conversation starter – and, as Sofia hints, that’s kind of the point.
We agree with this fave!
If she could take one artwork home…
Surprisingly, this one’s not a tough choice. Sofia knows exactly which piece she’d be heading home with... if alarms weren’t a thing.
Miranda Makaroff’s The Fart.
This blends Makaroff’s signature bold, textile-inspired style with a more light-hearted edge – think rich colours, rug and tapestry-like textures and a sense that nothing is taken too seriously.
“It's just so fun and playful and it always takes people a minute to fully realise what they’re looking at.”
Bright, cheeky and a little bit unexpected, it’s the kind of piece that catches you off guard – and always gets a laugh once it clicks (no matter how mature you think you are).
What it’s really like to work at Moco London
Working at Moco isn’t quiet or hands-off – especially on busy days.
“People always want to touch the car, especially when there are lots of kids in – sometimes we basically need someone stationed there just saying ‘don’t touch!’” We get it though, it looks super tempting!
She’s talking about Daniel Arsham’s Porsche, which comes with a mystery. Officially, it’s a cast, like all his other pieces, but many visitors suspect it’s real.
“I think it’s real,” Sofia confides, and standing in front of it, we can completely see why it's so up for debate.
Who doesn't want a giant fart in their living room?
The questions visitors always ask
Some questions come up all the time – and some are… very specific.
“We get lots of international students asking, ‘what’s a dickhead?’ in the Robbie Williams exhibition”
Somehow that’s not in the lists of vocab they’ve learned...
That exhibition is unique to Moco museums – and it’s also home to The Introvert Chair, the only artwork in the museum you’re actually allowed to touch.
Yes, you can sit on it. Yes, everyone double-checks first and then still feels like they might get in trouble.
Little things people often miss
According to Sofia, Moco rewards people who slow down.
“Artists often reference each other in their work - , you can spot a familiar ‘face’ in Keith Haring’s piece...”
Spoiler: it’s Andy Warhol as Mickey Mouse – not something we were expecting to see in another artist’s work, and something we’d never have noticed.
“You can also easily miss all the cool little symbols, like the crowns in all the Basquiat pieces.” Lots of works here feature symbols and motifs that can be seen across their artwork, and sometimes it takes a closer look to find them.
Seen any famous faces?
Moco has a bit of a reputation for attracting big names, not least because of the Pink Room: – a calm, immersive space that doubles as a VIP hideaway for special guests (and one you can book on the day too).
So… who’s passed through? Quite a few familiar faces, as it turns out.
“Ryan Gosling and his family visited the Pink Room... Yes – that was the best day at work ever.”
And it’s not just a one-off. Across the Moco museums, the Pink Room has welcomed the likes of Barack Obama and Ariana Grande, too.
Casual.
We totally get why people think it's real!
How to experience Moco like an insider
Moco London isn’t about ticking off artworks – it’s about reactions. Laughing, questioning, spotting connections and occasionally asking very specific questions you never expected to ask in a museum.
If you take one thing from Sofia, it’s this: take your time. Wander, look twice, and don’t be afraid to chat to the hosts – they’re full of stories you won’t find on the wall labels.
Enjoyed this spiffing spot of London?
Take your trip to the next level with our complete guide to Moco London or check out our interview with the Creative Director of Frameless, all filled with visitor hacks and money-saving tips.
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