Today I had the chance to attend the opening of an exhibition that will arguably be the quietest place in the city this summer. French artist and composer Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s installation “clinamen” has opened its doors (and pools) in New York City, at the historic Park Avenue Armory. The idea is shockingly simple: giant circular…
A statue from Afghanistan in New York? Not quite, but the new public art in the famous High Line Park is indeed a reference to the Bamiyan Buddhas (6th century!), which were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, despite international protests. The largest of them was over 50 meters tall, making it one of the…
How many original Statues of Liberty can you find in New York City? The answer is: more than you think! For example, the statue in the photo is called the Original Statue of Liberty, and it’s located on 61st Street on the Upper East Side. It’s cast in bronze from an original plaster model by…
Can an inconspicuous back alley turn into one of the most popular Instagram photoshoot spots in New York? Absolutely, if things unfold like this… In the 19th century, Freeman Alley was built as a service passage for horses and drainage, which was typical for that time. In the 20th century, it was mostly frequented by…
Recently I was walking through my favorite city, New York, and for a moment it felt like I had slipped into Miami… I had just come across a massive mural by the artist Alec Monopoly, who is known for his caricature-style paintings of the wealthy and bankers — especially characters like Richie Rich (“the poor…
It’s hard to say what I enjoy more: traveling to experience more art, or exploring art as an excuse to travel somewhere. Either way, there are unique places in the world that attract both travelers and art lovers alike. Skyspace is a series of architectural installations scattered around the world. They are rooms with an…
The gardening season is just around the corner, so let’s talk about… garden trowels! One of them — five meters tall — stands right next to Lever House on Park Avenue. Plantoir, Red: what is this sculpture? Plantoir, Red is a garden tool scaled up to about three times human height, created by the vibrant…
Today, New Museum — one of New York City’s leading and arguably most avant-garde contemporary art institutions — reopened to the public. I recently shared the story of why it had closed and who designed its new extension. Both architecture enthusiasts and art lovers had been eagerly awaiting its return. I visited the opening today…
The Bronx Museum of the Arts is the only contemporary art museum in New York City with free admission year-round. It is located on the Grand Concourse in the South Bronx, just a short walk from Yankee Stadium, yet it remains one of the city’s most underrated cultural institutions. Key facts about the Bronx Museum…
The Staten Island Museum is officially the oldest cultural institution on the island, and the only remaining general-interest museum in all of New York City. That last distinction matters more than it sounds. Most museums specialize — contemporary art, natural history, a single culture or era. The Staten Island Museum does something increasingly rare: it…
