New York is the global center for creativity.
It is the American melting pot of the arts, the natural trendsetter for fashion and has the most breathtaking skyscrapers that fill out the city’s skylines.
One of the largest cities in the world, hosting the most famous spots such as Wall Street, Time Square, Broadway and Manhattan, navigable by 350 km of subway tracks, with over fifty theatres, hundred museums, twenty design houses and residents from over 200 nations, NY is one of the most fascinating and diverse to explore cities in the world.
A recent visit to this bustling city was certainly a very stimulating experience
Art in much more ingrained in Newyork’s culture – Sam Taylor Wood
Superior efforts by leading creative houses such as Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), Metropolitan Art Museum, Whitney’s etc. have ensured that New York is consistently innovating on art, culture and design
7 Art Attractions You Can’t-Miss in New York
With an art scene as prominent and diverse as New York’s, you shouldn’t miss these seven unique things that only New York can offer.
1) Taste the royal flavor of Rajasthan paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Art has been present in India for millennia and has evolved through religious, cultural, and political change. The period between 16th and 19th centuries in India displayed extraordinary creative outputs by many artists through paintings, literature, music and other art forms. Artists during this period were highly skilled and ambitious and produced many masterpieces such as Gita Govinda, Rajasthan royal court paintings, Surdas poems, etc.
MET museum features a significant collection of Rajastan royal paintings, named them as KRONOS Collections, many of which can only be found in MET, characterized by their charming colors and powerful portrayal of scenes from Hindu epics such as Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana, mystical legends and courtly life.
KRONOS collections celebrate the diverse styles and traditions of Indian painting and culture, which is not very common to find in any other art houses in the world.
2) Heighten your visual landscape outside museum walls through New York Street Art
Street art has proven itself to be a true expressive art form. It is not an inferior form of political outcry nor is it the indifferent rebellion of disaffected youth, rather one of the most expressive forms of art NY Street art thinks, feels, and evokes thought and emotions in the people that view it with an open mind. Here’s top five worth considering
- The Bushwick Collective in St. Nicholas Ave, Bushwick, Brooklyn
- The Audubon Mural Project (Map)
- Johnson Avenue in Bogart Street, Bushwick, Brooklyn
- Tuff City in 650 Fordham Road at Belmont Ave, Bronx
- South Bronx Block in E 173rd Street at West Farms Road, Bronx
3) Trace the course of Islamic Civilization at Metropolitan Museum of Art
While Arab world has been evolving as a modern and cosmopolitan hub, it seems there is an inherent inability to research, collect, curate and educate the enormous cultural and historical aspects of Islamic Culture
At MET, you will be amazed by the galleries of “The art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and later South Asia” section, where you will experience some of the finest masterpieces from the Islamic world.
The works primarily hosting works of art from the earliest periods of Muslim rule in the Arabian Peninsula, the Eastern Mediterranean, Iran, and Iraq. On display, there are magnificent examples of calligraphy, objects featuring arabesque décor in a wide range of media, manuscripts, paintings, carpets, etc.
These collections tell great stories of Islamic civilization from its roots in the Sasanian, Byzantine and south Arabian past through its early development in the Arab lands and Iran and subsequent spread into Turkey, Central Asia and India.
MET has created a huge canvas of Islamic tradition, showcasing the indigenous creativity this region has possessed, through its spaces, are all apparent that you can’t miss this one
4) Explore the Secret Art Max Neuhaus Times Square
A little-known sound installation located between 45th and 46th Street in 7th Ave, created by well-known sound sculptor Max Neuhaus, aptly resonates with the vibe and flow of Time Square.
The amazing fact is that hardly anyone notices it’s there. There are no curated directional signs, artist’s statement or signboards. It is simply a machine that amplifies the resonance of Time Square’s vibe, producing a sound similar to the mechanical humming
In his 2009 obituary, the New York Times ran this quote from him: “Traditionally, composers have located the elements of composition in time. One idea which I am interested in is locating them, instead, in space and letting the listener place them in his own time.”
So, the next time you’re in Times Square, find this place and become engulfed in the cacophony of Neuhaus’s installation
5) See Modern Masterpieces at MoMA
At first glance, MOMA is just another museum. But if you go deeper, MOMA is a very sophisticated institution representing many of the most challenging and creative art of our times. An art laboratory, situated in the heart of Manhattan, that truly represents the aesthetic and intellectual interests across various mediums such as painting, film, sculpture, photography, media, architecture and design, prints and illustrated books, drawings etc.
Many of the most world-renowned masterpieces are in the collection—including Pablo Picasso’s Demoiselles d’Avignon, Henri Matisse’s Blue Window, Paul Gaugin’s The Seed of the Areoi, Frida Kahlo’s The Self Portrait, Piet Mondrian’s Broadway Boogie Woogie, Henri Rousseau’s The Sleeping Gypsy etc.
Be a moral force for your art – This is one key message that you consistently see in every work at MoMA
Two most attracted works – Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night and Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory. It’s worth a visit to see these two great works of our time. Any understanding of MoMA must begin with the fact that this institution is forever willing to absorb risks, criticisms, and controversies
One unique trait MOMA reflects – It’s openness to study, curate, collect and organize a vast array of art forms across various mediums and borders. This is a courageous act indeed
6) Freedom Tunnel
It is surprising that none of the city tours and NY-To-Do lists have Freedom Tunnel as a recommended destination. Probably, the dark allies of this place could be a threat to usual tourists and urban explorers
The Amtrak tunnel under Riverside Park in Manhattan is known as Freedom Tunnel. Famous graffiti artist Chris Freedom used the tunnel walls to create some of his notable artworks, hence it is known as Freedom Tunnel
(Video Courtesy – Gritty NYC)
A lot of works have an obvious, or sometimes very subtle, anti-establishment hint in it. But if you’re one with an adventurous mindset and love for street art, this place is worth a try
7) Shop at Whitney’s Design Store
New York is no short of design stores and creative shops promoting local artisans and their works.
A bookstore located at the ground level of Whitney’s Museum is a must-visit to see what New York has to offer in terms of creativity. A small shop that features exciting and creative collections of apparel, books, prints, and accessories which will definitely stimulate your creative muscles.
New York – A Melting Pot of Creativity and Energy
Everything in New York is love. From the streets to the high-rises, foods, and nightlife, the New York Art and history, you’d leave the place with fun-filled experiences and overwhelming memories.