With growing uncertainty about the future of museums and funding for the arts in America, I find the best cure is engaging with the arts more! New York City, a bus ride away from Cornell, is known as one of the museum and art capitals of the world. So as you prepare to immerse yourself in the world of art, I have included a few galleries that should make your itinerary.
Levy Gorvy Dayan is a gallery on the Upper East Side with a focus on contemporary art. The gallery is known for handling works by the likes of Andy Warhol and Yves Klein. The exhibits at this gallery tend to be large scale and the contemporary artworks themselves are highlighted through their stark contrast to the classical style townhouse in which the New York gallery resides.
Currently on view at the gallery is an exhibition that displays the work of two artists: Danielle Orchard and Aristide Maillol. The sculptures of Maillol are placed alongside paintings by Orchard, providing a visual experience that recontextualizes both sets of works.
Hauser & Wirth has several art galleries across the city; however, my personal favorite is the Chelsea location. The many floors of this large white open space allow the art on display to speak for itself. I was inspired by the current exhibition, “Camille Henrot: ‘A Number of Things.’” It is a nostalgic exhibition that features a body of bronze sculptures titled Abacus. But what struck me the most was not just the childlike nostalgia the sculptures provoked, but the exhibition design of the space. The green floors with a white grid create a space that feels like you have been shrunken and are walking through a child’s play space.
Another Chelsea favorite is Lisson Gallery, a single-floored large open space that provides the perfect escape on a rainy day. Lisson Gallery itself also represents several notable artists, including Marina Abramović and Ai Weiwei, while also highlighting emerging artists.
Julian Opie’s work, on display now, is larger than life and centers around the theme of walking. The large primary-color figures are placed throughout the space, while moving animations of similar figures are projected on the walls. There are also multidimensional paintings by Opie in the room.
Hunter Dunbar Projects is a welcoming space with a great team. The relatively new space, which opened in 2022, has featured a variety of post-war and contemporary works. “Hiroko Takeda: ‘The Ten Thousand Threads’” is a fascinating, detailed exhibition. I’m forever impressed by Hiroko Takeda and her technique that combines weaving with sculpture and paint. The works are intricate and I found myself spending quite some time becoming mesmorized by the patterns of the works.
This gallery, often the subject of viral content across Instagram Reels and Tiktok, is a multi-level gallery located in a townhouse on the Upper East Side. Although this gallery is visited by many, I always find it to be a peaceful space. The architectural style of the gallery changes on every floor. The industrial concrete of the first floor transitions to the grand room and checkered floor of the second floor and then to the wooden-dark walls of the third. One thing is without a doubt: when visiting Salon 94, you will be impressed. The various exhibitions I have seen over time here are always dynamic and visually engaging. Most notably, Niki Saint Phalle’s Tableaux Éclatés, which filled the gallery with moving art and even a lifesize fountain in which water poured out of the sculpture's breasts.
Last but very certainly not least, Anna Zorina Gallery, an intimate but lively gallery. This female-run gallery is a bright break from the sometimes dark and ominous aesthetic of current contemporary art. The last exhibition, Ammon Rost’s ‘Omakase Gardens,’ which closed only a few days ago, was a joyful display of modern color. I immediately had a smile on my face when I encountered the artworks. The blues, greens and spectrum of pinks truly embodied the exhibition’s name.
Dani Mendell is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at dlm357@cornell.edu.
