Every day is an artful adventure in New York City—but some days, you want to pack a little more of the good stuff into your schedule.
Whether you love to gallery-hop till you drop, or just need a lil’extra creative energy in your life, we’ve got the perfect weekend itinerary for you.
Now conjure a friend or two and get ready for an awesome, art-filled day in NYC with our list of five current art exhibitions you positively can’t miss: They’re sure to leave you inspired and breathless—and not just from all the walking.
1. Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure
In this intimate exhibition filled with immersive environments, over 200 seldom-seen paintings, sketches, multimedia presentations, ephemera, and relics tell the biography of Jean-Michel Basquiat, interweaving his artistic aspirations with his private life, creative influences, and the times in which he lived.
“Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure” will debut on April 9, 2022, at the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Chelsea.
2. Tomás Saraceno: Particular Matter(s)
In his largest US exhibition to date, Saraceno sparks a dialogue between human and nonhuman lifeforms through floating sculptures, interactive installations, and a collaborative artistic process. These works celebrate the intricacy of our common existence while exploring new ways to live together.
“Tomás Saraceno: Particular Matter(s)” is open until April 17, 2022, at the Shed in Midtown West.
3. In America: A Lexicon of Fashion
An iconic quilt started in 1856 from The Met’s American Wing collection opens the exhibition, symbolizing the US and its diverse ethnic identities. From the 1940s to the present, this reflection of American fashion comprises more than a hundred ensembles for men and women by a wide spectrum of designers. The exposition is divided into 12 sections portraying emotional qualities: nostalgia, delight, belonging, joy, wonder, confidence, affinity, strength, assurance, desire, comfort, and consciousness.
“In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” is open until September 5, 2022, at the Met on Fifth Avenue.
4. Fuse: Trust
Step into a data-driven universe developed by Fuse, a multidisciplinary art studio, and see how our seemingly intimate sense of trust can have a global impact. This fully immersive, audiovisual installation explores trust’s various meanings and implications. It examines data to determine how previous events influenced trust and how this may alter in the future. It also investigates how the presence or absence of trust affects our perception of our personal realities.
“Fuse: Trust” is open until May 30, 2022, at the Artechouse NYC
5. Charles Ray: Figure Ground
This exhibition features the work of Charles Ray, one of the most significant artists of the twentieth and twenty-first century, with a range of meticulously positioned works that create nuanced relationships between items and spectators. His work combines performance, photography, and sculpture to stimulate meaningful consideration on issues such as identity, mortality, racism, and gender—frequently in irreverent ways.
“Charles Ray: Figure Ground” is open until June 5, 2022, at the Met on Fifth Avenue.
Indulge Your Inner Culture Vulture
Everyone knows New York City is an art lover’s paradise. And—if you can avoid getting run over by a cab—the city is a delight to explore on foot.
There are just sooo many cool art shows going on right now, and if you haven’t hit them up yet, you need to get on that.
Uhh, seriously, what are you waiting for?
Get that venti triple shot soy white mocha latte to-go, and commence indulging your inner culture vulture today.
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
Thomas A. Edison
