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New York City offers endless opportunities to immerse yourself in art and culture from around the world. You may already be familiar with the internationally renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art, but The Big Apple offers plenty of low-key galleries that will excite your imagination.
If you want a taste of New York’s artistic culture, consider visiting one of these four best art galleries in New York:
Tanya Bonakdar Gallery
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Founded in 1994, the Tanya Bonakdar Gallery features exhibitions of new work by contemporary artists in all kinds of mediums including painting, sculpture, installation, photography and video. Part of the gallery’s unique charm is the range of materials that the artists use. For example, the work of Irish sculptor Siobhán Hapaska captures the imagination with a creative display of deerskin, olive tree and graphite. Contemporary visual artist Ernesto Neto takes an innovative approach to creation with steel and glass beads.
Past exhibitions include the spider web showcase by Tomás Saraceno, which featured dramatic lighting effects that highlighted the beautiful complexity of spider web-themed art. Located in Chelsea, the gallery features the work of more than 30 artists, including Uta Barth, Mark Dion, Olafur Eliasson, Susan Philipsz and Thomas Scheibitz.
David Zwirner Gallery
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David Zwirner’s contemporary art gallery was first established in 1993, but it moved from SoHo to Chelsea in 2002 and is now considered a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts. The gallery features the works of more than 40 artists, including the immensely popular Yayoi Kusama, whose Infinity Room and Give Me Love exhibits attracted hoards of international visitors.
The gallery has also showcased work by mainstream innovators Richard Serra and Jeff Koons. Other featured artists include Mamma Andersson, Diana Thater, Jan Schoonhoven and Al Taylor.
Luhring Augustine Gallery
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Luhring Augustine is one of New York City’s most reputable galleries. It features a range of artistic mediums and the work of timeless artists such as Gerhard Richter, Pablo Picasso and David Musgrave. The gallery’s theme is contemporary art, with exhibits that energize the senses using abstract objectivity and light effects.
Tilton Gallery
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Since its conception in 1983, Tilton Gallery has become one of the most popular art centers on the Upper East Side. The gallery has garnered a reputation for featuring the innovative and pioneering work of up-and-coming artists from around the world.
On occasion, Tilton Gallery invites breakout artists to host free lectures. Over the years, the world’s A-list of contemporary artists, such as Marlene Dumas, David Hammons, Fred Tomaselli, Francis Alys and Huang Yong Ping, have exhibited their work at Tilton.
These prominent galleries will give you a true taste of what the best New York art scene has to offer. Due to their continued rotation of exhibits and featured artists, you’re always bound to find something new to see no matter how many times you’ve visited. While there are plenty of big-name showcases to enjoy, make sure you take the time to experience the imaginative exhibitions at these small yet charming galleries.
