NYC truly has it all, and the art scene is no exception. There are over 200 galleries in Chelsea alone! The featured shows at these galleries are always changing, and with so many to choose from at any given time, it’s easy to miss the best ones! To help you organize your art show priorities, we’re bringing you our top picks for the best upcoming art shows in NYC!
Things – Urs Fischer at Gagosian Gallery
May 15th – June 23rd, 2018
Opening reception: Tuesday, May 15, from 6–8pm
511 Fifth Avenue, entrance at 2 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017.
This exhibit in the heart of midtown Manhattan features a life-sized aluminum rhinoceros. The name Things is extremely appropriate, as various objects like a vacuum cleaner, shovel, and handbag are all floating amidst the rhino centerpiece. Artist Urs Fischer created this showing from an extensive range of materials including clay, steel, bread, dirt, vegetables, and various other things to bring this unique exhibit to life. If you happen to be walking by, you can see the rhinoceros through the windows at street level!
Paris to New York, 1952-1959 – Al Held at Cheim & Read
May 17th – July 6th, 2018
Opening reception May 17th from 6-8 pm
547 W 25th St, New York, NY 10001
This exhibit is a celebration of the works of the late Al Held. This particular showing is of his work from 1954 to 1959, when his artistic goal was, in his words, “to give the gesture structure.” The pieces that will be on display at Cheim & Read are from a series called the Pigment Paintings, which were actually made from sacks of pigment that weighed over 100 pounds! What’s even more interesting is that Held got his hands on these giant bags of pigment when the Museum of Modern Art was getting ready to dispose of them. Held just happened to be working as a janitor there at the time, and was able to make use of all the color.
Long, Long, to Everywhere – Tim Braden at Ryan Lee Gallery
May 17th – June 29th, 2018
Opening reception May 17th from 6-8 pm
In Tim Braden’s exhibit Long, Long, to Everywhere he draws on travel experiences of his friends, family, and his own to bring this adventurous exhibit to life. These colorful paintings aren’t necessarily depictions of specific settings, but rather they convey the memories and emotions from past travel experiences.
Atlas – David Maisel at Yancey Richardson Gallery
May 17th – July 6th, 2018
Opening reception May 17th from 6-8 pm
525 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011
David Maisel’s exhibition of large, fascinating aerial photography called Atlas showcases a unique and abstract view of industrial settings. This exhibit is focused on how we as humans have organized large-scale operations such as mining and logging that have dilapidated the our beautiful natural landscape. Maisel himself depicts his work as “psychic landscapes.”
Intricate Neighbors II – curated by Jamie Martinez from The Border Project Space at Galerie Protégé (AF Publisher)
May 17th – June 17th, 2018
Opening reception May 17th from 6-8 pm
197 Ninth Ave (Lower Level – Chelsea Frames), New York, NY 10011
This collaborative art show provides a window into the world of seven artists. Literally! The Intricate Neighbors II exhibit is all about how our homes are our most private environments; the artists play off of this idea by showing this exhibit through a window and into their homes. After all, our homes hold all of our most personal belongings, it’s where we sleep, eat, and spend a large amount of our time. Our homes are even the basis of a lot of our memories. The whole idea being: you never truly know someone until you live with them and see what they’re like in a natural setting.
Théâtres de mémoire – Jean Dubuffet at Pace Gallery
May 17th – June 29th, 2018
Opening reception May 17th from 6-8 pm
510 West 25th Street, New York, NY 10001
This exhibit is a curation of the work of Jean Dubuffet. Among the paintings in the exhibit are paintings that have been loaned from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and National Gallery to be on display at the Pace Gallery as a part of this collection. Dubuffet Foundation was nice enough to donate a few works from private collections to this exhibit as well.
La India Contaminada – Cecilia Vicuña at Lehmann Maupin
May 19th – July 6th, 2018
Opening May 19th from 6-8 pm
536 west 22nd street, New York, NY 10001
La India Contaminada is Lehmann Maupin’s inaugural exhibition for Cecilia Vicuña. Much of her work is noted for the activism against economic disparity, the exploitation of the powerless, and ecological destruction. The Chilean New York resident has had the great pleasure of showcasing her work all over the world for over 30 years. And at 71 years old, she’s still doing what she loves.
There are a ton of astounding art galleries and exhibits going on in New York City on a daily basis, so it’s impossible to see them all. These are just a few of our favorite exhibits coming up; it would be impossible to fit them all! Definitely, bump these exhibits up on your list of priorities, they won’t disappoint you!
