The 8 Best NYC Galleries
Along with all the museums in NYC visitors can find literally hundreds of smaller or bigger art galleries. New York is a city full of art galleries – modern and intriguing you can find them at every city corner. They display all kinds of art – from traditional media art, paintings and prints to contemporary art. You can see works from famous artists as well from young still unknown or rising stars. NYC galleries are strongly orientated towards contemporary art and new art forms.
Let’s see eight of the many galleries, which has been top rated and most visited.
Gagosian Gallery
Address: 976/980 Madison Avenue, NY 10075
The famous Gagosian gallery, under the direction of Larry Gagosian, has 5 gallery spaces in New York. Not to mention it’s galleries in Paris, London and San Francisco, Rome, Athens, Geneva and Hong Kong. In New York, the gallery constantly displays contemporary art of famous artists. Names like Basquiat, Giacometti, Damian Hirst, Jasper Johns, Nam June Paik, Ed Ruscha, Richard Serra, Anselm Kiefer and Andy Warhol are part of their collection.
In the 5 exhibition areas visitors can see temporary exhibitions of internationally known artists. The exhibition space is huge, you can use your whole day walking around.
Opening Hours: All gallery spaces work from Tuesday to Saturday between 10 am and 6 pm
David Zwirner Gallery
Address: 525 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011, United States
David Zwirner Gallery in New York, as well as the one in London, is one of the leading and most respected art spaces today. Its owner David Zwirner is philanthropist and art dealer of high level. In 2012 he was at the second place in Forbes’s rating for America’s most powerful art dealers. His gallery since it’s launching in 1993 shows modern works of artists working after the 60’s and young contemporary authors.
Works of Dan Flavin, Donald Judd, On Kawara, Jeff Koons, Ad Reinhardt and younger artists like Marcel Dzama, Luc Tuymans, Chris Ofili, Neo Rauch and Lisa Yuskavage have been displayed in the gallery over the years. Visiting the gallery, you usually will be able to see three or four ongoing exhibitions.
Opening Hours: Every day from 10am to 6pm, except Mon-Tue, when it’s closed
Art in General
Address: 145 Plymouth St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
Art in General is non-profit organization and gallery space in New York which exists since 1980. Art in General was founded by two artists Martin Weinstein and Teresa Liszka, trying to give voice to contemporary art and young artists. Since its opening, Art in General constantly supports new artists allowing them to show their works in joint or solo exhibitions and by gathering funds to develop their careers.
For those years Art in General has put their trusts in artists like Glen, Marina Abramović, and Gabriel Orozco. The organization collaborates internationally with other countries, helping with the promotion of the artists outside the US. They conduct annual symposium, concentrated towards contemporary art issues. If you visit Art in General you’ll see mainly new artists, with fresh art and ideas.
Opening Hours: Every day from 10am to 6pm and Sunday is closed
New Museum of Contemporary Art
Address: 235 Bowery, New York, NY 10002
Don’t think that the Bowery hosts only tattoo shops. On this street can be found one of the major gallery spaces, presenting the work of emerging artists – New Museum of Contemporary Art. Opened in 1977 with the endeavors of Marcia Tucker. The museum has changed its location many times, until settling at the Bowery, occupying 700 square foot of exhibition space.
During the years, the museum gathered nearly 1000 works of art in different media. They joined forces with museums from Chicago and LA to raise funds for buying new works of emerging artists. The gallery also helps to arrange displays and funding artists.
The museum has a huge digital archive, containing more than 4000 artists and curators to be explored there by the visitors. The have shown works of William Kentridge, Paul McCarthy, Andrea Zittel and Fela Kuti. Every day you can see interesting exhibitions ongoing by buying a ticket.
Tickets: The general price is $16 and $10 for students. Every Thursday evening from 7pm to 9pm you can pay what you wish, suggesting to start with at least $2.
Opening Hours: Wed-Fri-Sat from 11am to 6pm and Fri from 11am to 9pm
The Drawing Center
Address: 35 Wooster Street, SoHo, NY 10013
The Drawing Center is super interesting place to visit in SoHo. The gallery is focused on the act of drawing as triggering force to contemporary art. It researches and explores the drawing and its connections with science, filmmaking, art, performance and digital art, but also how drawing is linked to music, theater, food, political life….
The Drawing center has been awarded for ”Best non-profit gallery space” for 2010. Their exhibitions and curator choices travel all over the world in big and respected museums for contemporary art.
They conduct a lot of art activities, open sessions, educational programs, give scholarships and gallery talks opened to the public. Visit the Drawing Center to find interesting artworks on paper.
Tickets: Symbolic price- for adults $5 and students $3
Opening Hours: Wen-Sun from 12 am to 6 pm, Thursday works until 8 pm and Mon-Tue is closed
Pace Gallery
Address: 534 W 25th St, New York, NY 10001
Again big names have been working with the gallery – Sol LeWitt, Hai Bo, Willem de Kooning, Chuck Close, Alexander Calder, Mark Rothko has been exhibited in their multiple gallery areas.
In their four locations The Pace show one exhibition at each. They popularize their collection at several Art Fairs- in Seattle, Chicago, and London.
Opening Hours: Daily from 10 am to 6 pm, except Mondays and Sundays, when closed.
Luhring Augustine Gallery
Address: 531 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011
Brooklyn space: 25 Knickerbocker Avenue/ Bushwick
Luhring Augustine Gallery is a product of the joint forces of the two owners, who have dedicated their endeavors to deal with art and spread it out around the world. This gallery is well known for its curatorial approach to exhibitions.
During the years they’ve organized several major monographic exhibitions to respect the work of the world known artists Marcel Duchamp, Donald Judd and Gerhard Richter. Luhring Augustine often takes out work out their curatorial space to be included in some fo the biggest international art forums. Works, part of the collection of the gallery took participation in the Venice Biennale, the Carnegie International, and Documenta.
With some of the artists, the gallery supports the organization also makes collaboration with major art forums like Art Basel and FlAC. You can visit their both exhibition locations in Chelsea and Brooklyn.
Chelsea location: Tue-Sat from 10 am to 6 pm in the winter and summer working times Mon-Fri 10am to 5:30 pm
Bushwick: Thu-Sat from 11 am to 6 pm and summer working times Wed-Sat 11am to 5:30pm
Storefront for Arts and Architecture
Address: 97 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012
Storefront for Arts and Architecture was and still is one of the most innovative art spaces in the city. It opened doors in 1982 is a small alternative and conceptual area for art, talks and screenings. They still follow the same line, organizing a lot of gallery talks and sessions, film screenings, as well as exhibitions.
The gallery’s major idea is to create a dialog with the public, while focusing on issues, considering art, architecture and design, as a visual expression of social problems. The gallery also puts in front many competitions, displaying the winner’s projects and installations. If you visit the Storefront you’ll see many architectural projects, showing how art interacts with the city and nature environment.
Opening Hours: Tues- Sat from 11 am to 6 pm and Sunday and Monday is closed.
