DOWNTOWN GALLERIES, BECAUSE IT’S NOT JUST  ABOUT CHELSEA

Grandlife guide

DOWNTOWN GALLERIES, BECAUSE IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT CHELSEA

back to list

Sure, New Yorkers all love visiting uptown galleries and strolling the streets of Chelsea, but SoHo and its downtown counterparts remain beloved for their art institutions and avant-garde roots—in the ’60s, Warhol, Basquiat, and the composer Philip Glass lived and worked in the neighborhood. Below, our edit of downtown galleries with an array of notable and emerging artists.

New Museum

Along the Bowery, you can’t miss the striking seven-story museum, designed by Tokyo firm Sejima + Nishizawa. This season, the space’s buzzy Triennial, Songs for Sabotage, features socially-charged works by Janiva Ellis and South African-based artist Keynan Chemu No’ok. Come summer, the lineup will lean on solo exhibitions by artists Hiwa K, Aaron Fowler, and a collaboration between The Black School x Kameelah Janan Rasheed. Don’t leave without visiting the well-curated gift shop.

235 Bowery, New York, NY 10002; T. (212) 219-1222

Deitch Projects

Bold, visionary, and always three steps ahead, this Wooster Street institution from its legendary founder Jeffrey Deitch, has long presented ambitious, large-scale installations and performances by luminaries like Yoko Ono and Chris Johanson. Deitch originally opened his Wooster Street project and event space in 1996, and through 2010 showcased a glittering array of contemporary and modern art. The good news is that Deitch Projects has again taken up residency at the Wooster Street location proving once more its status as a must-visit destination for those seeking left-of-center cultural experiences. Recently, the space has exhibited work by art punk legend, the late Alan Vega, and American painter Kenny Scharf, among others. This May through June 30, People: Figurative Sculpture takes a look at the form.

18 Wooster St, New York, NY 10013: T. (212) 343-7300

Team Gallery

Hailing from sunny California, this unassuming, two-room gallery on Grand Street (founded in 2006 by Jose Freire) packs a visual punch with cutting-edge installations from the likes of Ross Knight and photography from downtown artist Ryan McGinley whose I’ll be Your Mirror show launches in late summer. For a primer, check out LA-based artist Parker Ito’s solo show, p, running through June 16.

83 Grand St, New York, NY 10013; T. (212) 279-9219

The Hole NYC

Hugging the Lower East Side and Nolita, The Hole, founded by Deitch Projects alumna Kathy Grayson, plucks emerging contemporary pieces to line her bright white walls. Known to include the all-star likes of Vanessa Prager, and Holton Rower. From May, London-based Matthew Stone’s colorful paintings and sculptures take center stage through June 24.

312 Bowery, New York, NY 10012; T. (212) 466-1100

Words Kate Donnelly

Photography courtesy Deitch Projects; Kenny Scharf: Inner and Outer Space, 2017  

You May Also Like

Weekend's in Chelsea

Weekend's in Chelsea

art & design
coffee & cafés
food & drink
music
stories
From Yayoi Kusama at David Zwirner to a bookstore specializing in out-of-print art and photography tomes, explore the neighborhood with this curated guide.
The Queen’s Gambit: NYC’s Best Drag Bars

The Queen’s Gambit: NYC’s Best Drag Bars

art & design
bars & nightlife
stories
Eight of our favorite venues where talented queens give their own takes on drag every night of the week.
A Taste (& Tour) of Tribeca

A Taste (& Tour) of Tribeca

art & design
bars & nightlife
food & drink
stories
From a landmark liquor store turned menswear shop to farm-to-table dining in a three-story townhouse—our guide to the best spots to eat, drink, gallery hop and shop.
Escape From New York: Backyard Gardens Edition

Escape From New York: Backyard Gardens Edition

food & drink
restaurants
stories
The best of the city's coveted backyard dining scene.
Musician David Johansen in front of a red velvet curtain at Roxy Hotel.

One Night Only with David Johansen

entertainment
film
stories
"I just wanted to bring those walls down and have a party." David Johansen takes us inside his 'Personality Crisis'.
Five to Try: Best Bodegas Downtown

Five to Try: Best Bodegas Downtown

coffee & cafés
food & drink
stories
Whether you’re in the mood for a bacon-egg-and-cheese or a protein-packed smoothie, you’ll find it at these bodegas.
NYC’s Coolest Green Spaces

NYC’s Coolest Green Spaces

travel
wellness
stories
Downtown’s greenest and most lovely outdoor oasis’ to chill, play and soak up some rays this season.   
The Grandlife Guide For Theater Lovers

The Grandlife Guide For Theater Lovers

entertainment
stories
Curated picks for Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway shows plus theater-centric spots.
Choose Your Stay
logo-sg
The Hotel That Made Soho Grand
Meet Me At The Roxy
Book Now