[1] It bills itself as the Philippines' premier museum for modern and contemporary visual arts by local and international artists.

[2] Established since October 3, 1976, it was formerly located within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Complex along Roxas Boulevard in the Malate district of Manila.

The museum initially exhibited international artists to expose Filipinos to contemporary visual works in other cultures.

[3][4] Since 2022, the M has been relocated to its dedicated premises at the MK Tan Centre within the business district of Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

In September 1986, seven months after the EDSA revolution, the museum acquired a new board of trustees and became a non-government organization.