Art Galleries to See this Month
Maddy Heavens ‘26 and Senya Scott ‘26
Sweater weather is upon us. Tea is being drunk, cozy socks are being worn and the art galleries of New York are begging for some autumnal visitors. We have set aside our favorite gallery experiences to share with all of our eccentric art lovers at Sarah Lawrence.
Known for its unique architecture and vast collection of modern and contemporary art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim museum located on Museum Mile features powerful and thought-provoking exhibitions regarding social justice, political movements and an artist’s ability to create in times of hardship. The museum features two exhibitions at the moment, the Thannhauser Collection and “By Way Of: Material and Motion in the Guggenheim Collection”. The Thannhauser Collection focuses on Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and French modernist works of art, including pieces from Monet, Van Gogh, Degas and an array of other influential artists of the time.
“By Way Of” on the other hand, explores how artists have moved beyond the limitations of the traditional studio and materials to create innovative artworks and modes of working. This particular exhibit consists of rooms filled with huge installation pieces, using found objects, video, textiles- anything the mind can imagine. My favorite piece from this exhibit is by Mike Kelley, titled “Riddle of the Sphinx”. The work features a 26-by-13 foot knitted blanket and is a commentary on capitalism and psychoanalysis.
The most interesting part of the entire museum however, were all the featured works by artist Jenny Holzer. Her works, spanning across the walls on the ramp of the museum, are mainly commentaries on war and the political atmosphere of today. On view right now are her “Light Line” that surrounds the perimeter of the six floor ramp and features her own written word artistry, as well as written word carved into stone and plaques that focus on themes regarding war and peace. The most interesting and politically relevant of her works is “Cursed”, an installation of 300 fragmented metal pieces, forty of which are positioned along the wall, leading into a heap of the other 260 on the floor. Each piece features a Donald Trump tweet from his presidency, highlighting his commentary on people, culture, politics and the media. No matter the exhibitions on view, the Guggenheim holds a multitude of socially relevant and impactful pieces that viewers can spend a whole day getting lost in.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is expansive, and can be overwhelming with all it has to offer. A few blocks down from the Guggenheim, the Met features ancient Greek and Roman art, Egyptian art, Medieval art, European paintings, musical instruments, sculpture, modern art, and so much more. The museum is home to plenty of works by world renowned artists, from Van Gogh’s notorious self-portrait, to the abstract stylings of Picasso and Braques, as well as more contemporary art by Georgia O’Keefe and Paul Klee. The modern and contemporary wing is my personal favorite, featuring some of the most innovative and bold works from the twentieth century.
What was most exciting to see were the iconic works of Andy Warhol. The two that caught my eye the most were “Ladies and Gentlemen” and “Nine Jackies”. “Ladies and Gentlemen” is a series of works that commemorate the vibrant drag and trans community in New York during the 1970s. Warhol shot 500 polaroids of popular drag queens and LGBTQ+ activists of the time, including the legendary Marsha P. Johnson. The piece “Nine Jackies” depicts first lady Jackie Kennedy before and after the assassination of her husband. The work is visually appealing with bright blue colors and becomes more fascinating when the proper context is understood. While focused primarily on modern art, the Met has something for everyone; spanning across centuries, mediums and movements, the Met is a must-visit museum for anyone interested in viewing a wide variety of art.
There is an art gallery on the fourth floor of the Yonkers Public Library. A beautiful array of political, uplifting and introspective art resides in the very walls of one of our local community buildings. The physical space is a lovely experience. It is well-lit, and the art pieces are given the proper amount of space to stand alone from one another. Upon entry, there is a TV screen that plays videos and shows photographs of Black Americans throughout the history of the nation. It is like a piece of nostalgia for anyone and very easy to connect with. That piece was titled, “Blueprint for My People” by Carol Bash.
There were two portraits made with mixed media right across from the TV titled, “Wanna Talk About It?” #1 and #2. A father and daughter spending their evening at the art gallery stood before the two paintings. It seemed as though it was the first piece to catch their eye. The painting features two Black women aging together as they do each other's hair, highlighting Black hairstyling as a form of therapy and communion. Another piece that caught my eye was a painting done with acrylic on canvas titled, “A Woman’s Choice” by Elizabeth Jacobsen. A woman holding her hat down is wandering down a vibrantly colored path to her next destiny. All of her options are before her, speaking to the woman’s yearning for autonomy.
Art like this, which features the faces and voices of Black and Brown lives, and the voices of women is important to showcase.
