Spring is starting to bloom, and with that blooms New York City’s vibrant arts scene. From traditional exhibits to outdoor installations, the warmer weather will have you wanting to take a stroll and see for yourself.
Here are a few things in New York City in art that you won’t want to miss this spring.
Art in the Parks
New York City’s parks have no shortage of art installations nestled into the city’s green spaces. Here are a few that you’ll want to make sure you seek out this spring:
The Gates: An Augmented Reality Experience, Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Central Park, 72nd Street between 5th Avenue and Cherry Hill
On display through April 16
This augmented reality exhibit takes parkgoers through The Gates through the Bloomberg Connects app for free. Through this exhibition, you can see where The Gates once stood in the park. Works best during daylight hours!
Rappin’ Max Robot, Eric Orr and Welder Underground
Columbus Park, Brooklyn
On display through April 30
Created by The Collab-Orators, a Brooklyn-based non-profit, Rappin’ Max Robot is a tribute to hip hop culture and its role in breaking onto the world’s stage. The sculpture will be making its rounds around the city before making its permanent home in Paris.
Blooming Reflections by Lee Tal
Stuyvesant Square, Rutherford Place & E. 17th St., Manhattan
On display through May 10
Presented by the Stuyvesant Park Neighborhood Association, Blooming Reflections celebrates indigenous plants while also highlighting the efforts to bring these types of plants back to parks. The installation is made up of five sculptures made of polished aluminum, reflecting the natural surroundings and the parkgoers who see it.
American Gold: A Ship of Human Bondage by Marcus Brown
North 5th Street Pier and Park, Brooklyn
Albert Capsouto Park, Manhattan
Queensbridge Park, Queens
On display through June 18
Available for view in three different parks, American Gold is an augmented reality installation that educates participants on how many people were squeezed into a slaving vessel while also exploring the inhumane treatment of African captives. This installation is part of a larger series of art installations about slavery called Slavery Trails, placed at historical sites throughout the country.
New exhibitions
Poster House
119 W. 23rd St., Manhattan
On display through Sept. 7
Poster House has two new exhibitions that you can check out this spring. Fallout: Atoms for War & Peace explores the global development of the nuclear industry through the posters that both promoted and protested its use through the second half of the 20th century. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico in Print: The Posters of Lorenzo Homar highlights the work of Lorenzo Homar, known as the “the father of the Puerto Rico poster,” through three main eras of his life.
NYC Mosaic: Corner x Corner
Gallery Particulier, 281 Maple St., Brooklyn
Opens April 1
NYC Mosaic: Corner x Corner brings together a dialogue of history, identity, and storytelling through powerful paintings, sculpture, and mixed media. This exhibition includes the works of Rodney Ewing, Ronen Gamil, Amir Bey, and Grace Nkem.
Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk
Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn
On display May 10-18
Who doesn’t love an art-filled stroll? The annual Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk is returning this spring with works from over 125 artists. The 1.5 mile walk is self-guided and is in 60+ local businesses along the street.
INTER: An Interstellar Departure
415 Broadway
Take an intergalactic journey without having to step into a spaceship. Explore multiple exhibits over two floors that will give you a sense of cosmic delight while exploring bioluminescent and volcanic alien terrain, identifying life forms and more.
New York Studio School
The New York Studio School has three new exhibitions highlighting the achievements of their students:
2025 Certificate Completion Exhibition I – Alecia Chenoa & Jane Schube
8 W 8th St., Manhattan
On display April 10 – 19, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
This exhibition will highlight the works of New York Studio School Certificate students Alecia Chenoa and Jane Schube, who are finishing up their studies at the institution. An opening reception will be held on April 10 from 6 to 8 p.m.
2025 Certificate Completion Exhibition II – Suzanne Scott
8 W 8th St., Manhattan
On display April 24 – May 4, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
This exhibition will showcase the works of certificate graduate Suzanne Scott. The opening reception will be held on April 24 from 6 to 8 p.m.
2025 MFA Thesis Exhibition
8 W 8th St., Manhattan
On display May 14-28, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
For this exhibition, the first two floors of the New York Studio School will turn into a showcase for the new bodies of work from their graduating class. Featured artists include Eve Aaron, Neyla Arnas, Irit Baniel, Ron Chen, Marie-Chloé Duval, Yael Herzog, Zana Naveed, Dejana Pupovac, Thomas Spackman, Leon Toro, Merewyn Wirth and Amelia Wykes. An opening reception will be held on May 15 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Have something to add? Email emily.davenport@amny.com.
