New York is the epicenter of world culture according to some movies and pop culture references, and while it may seem like a bold claim, most will agree that the city is a vibrant metropolis where you can find just about anything you’re looking for as an art enthusiast.
From world-renowned museums to dynamic street murals, NYC has it all. On a New York walking tour, you can see all this and so much more.
New York is home to some of the most iconic museums found anywhere in the world, each with its own unique artistic imprint.
One of the stand-outs is The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), which hosts more than 2 million works that document over 5,000 years of artistic expression.
The museum offers a “pay-what-you-wish” policy for New York State residents and students, in the spirit of opening up art to anyone who wants to experience it - regardless of income level.
The best time to go if you’re in NYC is during the evening or free admission days if you’re looking to save some money on your artistic exploration of the city.
Besides The Met, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is a must-visit, too. Especially, if you’re interested in modern and contemporary art styles. Some other notable museums include the Guggenheim Museum with its iconic spiral architecture, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, which pays homage to 20th and 21st century American art.
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If you prefer to see art displayed in galleries than museums, why not head over to the Chelsea neighborhood for a day of art browsing complemented by a stop off at a coffee shop and a bite to eat for lunch?
Within just a few city blocks, you’ll find hundreds of art galleries in this neighborhood. Plus, all gallery visits are absolutely free, so you can keep your dollars in your pocket.
Most galleries will also host exhibitions regularly, so you can take a stroll around and see if there are any events on as you peruse the various free galleries. Once a month, you can also partake in the Chelsea Gallery Walk, where many galleries will stay open late and hold special exhibitions.
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Sometimes, it’s best to take in the artistic sights laid out in plain sight around a city, and there’s no place better to see street art than New York.
In places, the city feels like an open-air museum, with neighborhoods like Bushwick in Brooklyn becoming well-known spots to take in graffiti and street art.
The Bushwick Collective should be a must-visit if you’re interested in street art, as it features huge murals from artists from around the world that encompass entire building facades.
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If you’re in the mood for a long walk, and you’re keen to soak up some of NYC’s rich history and the culture that has shaped the city over time, a walking tour might just satisfy your curiosities.
Consider starting your walk over in Harlem, home to a huge cultural shift in the 1920s and 1930s, which spelled the start of many artistic movements.
In the neighborhood, you’ll find various iconic landmarks, including the Apollo Theater, which has historically been a hub for African-American performers, and the Studio Museum, which displays contemporary works by Black artists.
Another great walk to take if you want to dive deeper into the city’s art and culture is to roam around the Lower East Side. It’s here you’ll find the Tenement Museum, where you can learn about how immigrants have shaped the city’s artistic landscape.
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New York is a hub of artistic expression, from fine art housed in decadent museums to street art and graffiti, turning the city into an open-air museum.
What’s most exciting about a visit to New York is that you know that each time you return, there’ll be a new form of artistic expression taking shape, new art galleries to explore, and new artists to discover.