The Knicks may not be the only champions in town, as New York’s art scene is having a banner year. The Studio Museum has reopened, while the New Museum is expanding, and notable exhibitions like the Whitney Biennial and MoMA PS1’s Greater New York have coincided to offer a feast for the senses. The Met’s profound group show on Orientalism also delves into an empire state of mind, solidifying the city’s reputation as a cultural powerhouse.
New York thrives on its wildcards, bringing the strange, the experimental, and the magical to life. Pierre Huyghe’s dreamscapes at MoMA, inspired by brain activity, are just the beginning. There’s also an intriguing exhibit at Subtitled NYC, a Brooklyn project space, reimagining the internet as a water system, and Powerhouse Arts hosts a collection of animals, with the Cloisters displaying mythical beasts. This summer, pursuing the unicorn through New York is a must, as demonstrated by the Museum of the City of New York’s display of New Deal-era murals featuring Alice and her friends exploring NYC.
Pierre Huyghe: UUmwelt
Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53rd Street, Midtown, Manhattan
July 1–Nov. 29
In ‘UUmwelt,’ Pierre Huyghe challenges artificial intelligence to interpret human thoughts before they are verbalized. This interactive multimedia exhibition draws upon an artificial neural network’s interpretation of recorded brain activity, inviting visitor interaction that influences the generative imagery in real-time.
Certainly an Act: Works on Paper by Pope.L
The Drawing Center, 35 Wooster Street, Soho, Manhattan
June 26–Sep. 27, 2026
This extensive collection of over 200 lesser-known works by William Pope.L spans his career, showcasing his impact on performance art and drawing. Highlighting series like Failure Drawings and Skin Sets, the exhibition also features a unique installation, revealing Pope.L’s provocative exploration of medium, language, and action.
Orientalism: Between Fact and Fantasy
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, Manhattan
Through Feb. 28, 2027
This exhibition at The Met dissects the interactions between Europe, West Asia, and North Africa during the 19th century. By presenting Orientalist and Islamic art and decorative items, it explores the flow of Ottoman and Persian goods during industrialization, highlighting the interplay of observation, perception, and cultural exchange, with a focus on Osman Hamdi Bey’s unique perspective.
