5 nyc art shows not to miss this fall [2016]

Challenging racism, sexism and class, this selection of five exhibitions will give you diverse perspectives into art history which is just the way I like it. Whenever my creative well runs dry, a trip to New York City will fill my inspiration bank with more ideas than I could ever do in a lifetime. For each show, I am already fantasizing about who I most want to drag with me to share in the excitement.

Although, I confess I rather go to a show alone than miss out on it altogether. I actually get mad at myself if I miss an exhibit on my wish list. Once, I even braved the weather to travel into new York (by train) with a blizzard on the way. With beautiful fall weather and a plethora of gorgeously curated exhibits, I have no excuse not to see them all this fall.

Visit NYC Fall 2016

If you are planning to travel to New York, all of these shows will be open by October and most are in the museum mile district of the upper east side for those with enough energy to museum hop. I usually can only handle one exhibition per day or I risk sensory overload. When I am by myself, I grab the audio guide to keep me focused, but when I am with friends and family I prefer to talk to them about the art.

For me, the experience is usually just as much about the gift shop goodies, and the museum restaurant as it is about the art and when possible I've made some notes on some favorite museum restaurants and ways to save you money.

Neue Galerie New York
1048 Fifth Avenue (at 86th Street)
September 22, 2016-January 16, 2017

This exhibition examines the Klimt's sensual portraits of women as the embodiment of high society Vienna at the turn of the century. The exhibition includes approximately 12 draw dropping ornate paintings as well as 40 drawings, 40 works of decorative art, and vintage photographs of Klimt.
Central to the exhibition will be two portraits of Adele Bloch-Bauer made famous by the movie, Woman in Gold. Adele Bloch-Bauer was an important Klimt patron and notably, the only subject the artist ever painted twice in full length. Gustav Klimt, a central figure in the cultural life of Vienna at the turn of the twentieth century, provided a crucial link between nineteenth-century Symbolism and the beginning of Modernism. beginning in 1903.

Klimt's Influence:

Klimt's Influences: This artist's art has had an influence on my Art Nouveau depictions of peacocks. you can collect a print of this art on imagekind in your choice of framing or on canvas.

collect a dramatic over the sofa sized art to make a statement with an affordable print on canvas

If you go: Make time to have lunch at the authentic Viennese cafe, the Cafe Sabarsky. Even the wait staff are Austrian. If you refuse the tempting desserts, at least treat yourself to chocolate covered almonds as your souvenir takeaway.

Thrifty Tip: Museum is free 6-8 on Fridays.


John Singer Sargent’s Mrs. Carl Meyer and Her Children
Jewish Museum,  1109 5th Ave, New York (near 92nd)
September 16, 2016 - February 5, 2017


If you thought the Jewish Museum is a building full of menorahs and spice boxes, think again. The museum regularly curates exhibition of Jewish artists, illustrators and well as collections from prominent Jewish collectors. This capsule exhibition, features the lushly painted portrait of English Jews enjoying high society England. Lady Meyer, a socially concerned philanthropist, supported working class women, underprivileged families, and women’s suffrage.
This exhibition Explores the Holy City in the Middle Ages through jewelry, accessories, and more. Although there doesn't seem to be a lot of two dimensional art in this exhibit, my hope is fabulous "jewelry inspired by the exhibition" in the gift shop and an excuse to drag my son with me who professes a wish to study Arabic.
Let's be honest. I never heard of this artist and perhaps neither have you- and that is exactly why it's important to include her on this not to miss list. Let's celebrate women in art and not let their art get lost in the patriarchal art history archives. This London based artist is represented by Gagosian, a major international gallery and has her artwork in the permanent collections of the Guggenheim , the Whitney, and London’s Tate gallery. She draws source material from pop culture such as Jimi Hendrix album covers as well as historical references prints by eighteenth-century draftsman William Hogarth, pages from animal clip-art books. This is the first solo New York museum exhibition dedicated to this artist as well as the first one dedicated to her drawings and watercolors.