Manhattan, more than any of NYC's other boroughs, is known for its cultural hotspots and awesome museums... And, quite frankly, they're all awesome, especially the art museums.
Here are the essential top five must-see spots you need to check out this new year!
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1. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Where It Is: Fifth Avenue
What It's Known For: It's the largest art museum in the United States and its permanent collection contains classic Greco-Roman and Ancient Egyptian art. The Met also features art from nearly all the European masters, American masters, and modern art.
The Met is one of New York's most famous museums and has had a wide variety of exhibitions, such as the Manus x Machina fashion exhibit that ran from May to September 2016, and an exhibit dedicated to Vigee Le Brun, a female artist during the revolutionary era of France. Current exhibitions of note include a collection of Native American art and an exhibit of art centered around the holy city of Jerusalem. Recently, another branch, the Met Breuer, was opened and is dedicated entirely to contemporary art.
2. The New Museum
Where It Is: Bowery
What It's Known For: The New Museum exhibits contemporary art by American and international artists, with an emphasis on the unconventional.
The New Museum has recently experienced a sudden boost in photograph-ability, thanks to Swiss Pipilotti Rist's exhibition 'Pixel Forest,' which includes a very pretty room of hanging, color changing crystals. The rest of the exhibit, which closes January 15, is equally awesome, though, with a surrealist feel that would do David Lynch proud. In February 2017, an exhibit dedicated to Raymond Pettibon, whose ink drawings depict American culture, history, and mythology, will open. There's also a "sky room" on the 7th floor, which supplies the headline image and an awesome skyline view of Bowery.
3. The Museum of Modern Art
Where It Is: Midtown
What It's Known For: Next to The Met, MoMA is one of the best known of Manhattan's museums, and is dedicated to modern art. Obviously.
MoMA is considered by many to have the best collection of modern western art in the world, including works by Van Gogh and Warhol. Current exhibitions include an exhibition dedicated to the Russian Avant-Garde, and the way contemporary architecture has addressed the issues of displacement and the global refugee crisis. In 1971, an exhibition space called MoMA PS1 was opened in Long Island City, Queens.
4. The Whitney Museum of American Art
Where It Is: The Meat Packing District
What It's Known For: The Whitney contains 20th and 21st century American art in a wide variety of mediums.
Originally located on the Upper East Side, the Whitney moved to the Meat Packing District in 2015. It's right by the High Line elevated park, making it a nice place to start or stop your walk. Current exhibitions include an immersive cinema exhibition that includes art from 1905 to 2016 and an exhibit dedicated to NYC based artist, Carmen Herrera.
5. The Morgan Library and Museum
Where It Is: Murray Hill
What It's Known For: It was originally founded to house the private library of famous banker J.P. Morgan and was later turned into a public institution by his son in the 1920s.
The Morgan's permanent collection includes a wide variety of literature and classic art, and in the past has had an exhibition dedicated to Ernest Hemingway. It still has the personal collection of J.P. Morgan and current exhibitions include Martin Luther's reform presented through word and image and an exhibit dedicated to Charlotte Bronte.
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