Art at Americas Society in New York

Art at Americas Society in New York City is a compact yet conceptually powerful exhibition space that combines international cultural focus, academic depth, and free public access. If you find yourself in New York and want to see contemporary art with a global, inter-American perspective, this place is worth adding to your itinerary.

History

The Americas Society was founded in 1965. Since then, it has been housed in a historic townhouse on Park Avenue, where it has hosted conferences, music, and arts programs for decades.

The Americas Society building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was formerly the home of Percy Rivington Pine and, prior to its current use, housed the Soviet Mission to the UN. Along with the neighboring buildings of the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute and the Consulate General of Italy, it represents one of the few remaining unified architectural ensembles on Park Avenue.

In terms of its artistic program, Art at Americas Society is one of the oldest continuously operating venues in the United States dedicated to art from and about the Americas, including Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada.

Over the past decades, the gallery has built a reputation as a venue for both contemporary regional artists and thematic exhibitions exploring diasporas, interculturality, and political and social issues.

Exhibitions

It’s important to note that the gallery does not position itself as a museum with a large permanent collection. Its primary focus is temporary exhibitions and published materials.

Art at Americas Society regularly hosts significant thematic exhibitions. For example:

The Appearance: Art of the Asian Diaspora in Latin America & the Caribbean (September 4 – December 14, 2024): The first exhibition in New York to focus on the artistic practices of the Asian diaspora in Latin America and the Caribbean.