New York art in photos

In 2011, we spoke with then-associate curator Karole Vail at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum about works in the collection that are a must-see. The following pieces were her suggestions. For an updated glimpse of what art is on at NYC’s museums, check out our guide to the best museum exhibitions right now. 8 must-see works at the Guggenheim Museum Edgar Degas, “Spanish Dance”Degas loved dancers, and they became one of his favorite motifs. This tiny sculpture of a graceful nude figure mid-move, which appears alongside two other Degas sculptures, was actually cast from the artist’s model posthumously under the supervision of one of his friends, Albert Bartholom. Unlike most 19th-century sculptures, which, according to Vail, were academic and monumental, Spanish Dance represents something more expressive, vivid and lively.Where to find it: Thannhauser Gallery, level two Edouard Manet, “Before the Mirror”Fascinated by societal shifts in France in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Manet often painted the working class and the underclass—especially prostitutes. Using large, loose brushstrokes (his signature style), he portrays a courtesan from the back while she looks at herself in the mirror, perhaps just a moment before she turns around and catches you peeking at her. "You have the impression of openness and great freedom of paint," says Vail. "At the same time the psychological mood is more restrained. The picture is actually very private." Where to find...

Among NYC’s art museums, MoMA’s collection of 20th-century artworks is arguably unrivaled among other holdings, like those of The Metropolitan Museum Of Art or the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. MoMA, after all, has “Modern Art” right in its name, and beginning in 1929, it pioneered the acquisitions of masterpieces in Postimpressionism, Cubism, Surrealism and abstraction—not to mention Pop Art and works by leading contemporary artists. Though MoMA possesses works in all mediums, its horde of paintings takes center stage in its collection, as you can see in our list of the best paintings at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). RECOMMENDED: A full guide to the Museum of Modern Art

A lot of New York art museums—the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art among them—have fabulous collections, but no NYC institution provides the kind of viewer experience that the Guggenheim does. The reason, of course, is Gugg’s Frank Lloyd Wright building, which leads visitors along the famous spiraling ramps of the museum’s rotunda. Unique as the building is, however, what ultimately matters is the art, and in that respect, the Guggenheim’s holdings, especially its masterpieces on canvas, deliver—as you’ll discover in our list of the best paintings at the Guggenheim RECOMMENDED: A full guide to the Guggenheim New York

You could spend your entire time on the High Line in NYC just taking in the beauty of the wildflowers planted along the route, or the stunning views of Chelsea and lower Manhattan. But as if that weren’t enough, there’s also a huge variety of public art to see along the elevated park, curated by Friends of the High Line. Passersby will notice images on a grand scale displayed on the billboard at West 18th Street and Tenth Avenue; film and video projected on the walls at West 14th and West 22nd Streets; and commissioned pieces on scales both massive (El Anatsui’s monumental Broken Bridge II) and minuscule (the “Lilliput” group exhibit, which saw tiny sculptures dotting the park). The art is always changing; in case you missed anything, here’s a photographic rundown of pieces both past and current. RECOMMENDED: Full High Line in NYC guide

Graffiti art has become synonymous with the creativity and grit of New York between the ’60s and the Koch years, immortalized in films like Wild Style and Style Wars. We trace this form of expression from the 1940s to the 21st century.RECOMMENDED: Street art and graffiti guide

This time of year sees the arrival of a bunch of spring art fairs in March, the biggest of which is the Armory Show, and the interloper outlier Frieze superfair in May. There’s plenty in store at MoMA with two blockbuster exhibitions on Bill Brandt and Claes Oldenburg, and Paul McCarthy takes over Hauser & Wirth’s uptown gallery and expansive Chelsea location. Plus, find out what Mad. Sq. Art has in store once Buckyball finishes. RECOMMENDED: Spring in New York guide

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