No city in the world offers more art per capita than New York. In addition to its world-renowned museums—MoMA, the Guggenheim, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art—New York is home to over 1,400 galleries, accounting for 40% of all galleries in the United States. Add to that two primary art academies and a vast network of artists’ studios, and it’s easy to see why New York has been at the heart of the international art scene since it overtook Paris as the world’s art capital during World War II.
We visited the city during the vibrant spring art season. Among the museum highlights were the Whitney Museum, with its captivating exhibition of Amy Sherald’s: American Sublime portraits, and the Guggenheim, featuring influential works by Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers. At MoMA, we were treated to an exclusive curator-led tour of Jack Whitten: The Messenger, offering deep insight into the artist’s remarkable journey.
Our visit took us through Chelsea, where Hauser & Wirth presented a compelling show by William Kentridge, and into SoHo, where we encountered the monumental bronze sculptures of Thomas J. Price. A studio visit with Warren Neidich offered a personal glimpse into the daily life and work of a practicing New York artist.
We also attended a diverse selection of art fairs, including Frieze New York, Independent, NADA (New Art Dealers Alliance), and the prestigious TEFAF, each offering a different lens through which to view the current art landscape. We attended the exhibition of the Christie’s Spring Auction Week, featuring works by Fratino, Basquiat, and Kusuma at Rockefeller Center.
A particular highlight of the tour was our visit to the studio of multimedia artist Tony Oursler in the Bowery. Tony generously gave us an exclusive preview of his upcoming exhibition at Kunstmuseum Winterthur, which explores one of the greatest archeological scams in American history: The Cardiff Giant.
Our journey extended beyond the city limits with a day trip to the Hudson Valley. At Dia Beacon, housed in a former Nabisco box factory, we were immersed in minimalist and conceptual art displayed in vast, light-filled spaces rarely found in European institutions. We continued to Cold Spring for a visit to Magazzino Italian Art, a private collection devoted to Arte Povera, founded in 2017. We were warmly welcomed by Director Adam Sheffler and enjoyed a private tour of the collection led by the Chief Docent Greg Slick, followed by a delightful lunch at the museum’s Café Silvia.
Of course, no visit to New York would be complete without indulging in its world-class culinary scene. We enjoyed a variety of exceptional restaurants throughout our stay. One particularly memorable evening was the elegant cocktail party hosted by our Art Club member Tatiana in her beautiful 39th-floor apartment. While the thick fog outside concealed the city skyline, the atmosphere inside was bright with conversation and a sense of connection.
