Arts Guide

New York City is a haven for art lovers, with world-class museums, galleries, and public art installations. The beginning of a new season means a new round of art exhibitions, art fairs and outdoor art installations. With the warmer weather coming, it’s the perfect opportunity to take the time to check out of some of the best outdoor art installations currently on view around New York City. Enjoy our spring 2024 arts guide.

Start your journey with a sensory adventure at the New York Botanical Garden’s stunning 250-acre grounds that will be transformed into Wonderland, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s famous story, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (on view from May 18 – October 27, 2024). Explore a variety of mind-bending experiences, a mix of horticultural displays and immersive art installations set throughout the botanical gardens. The garden-wide exhibit, “Wonderland: Curious Nature”, takes in a range of public programs and includes special culinary treats at the garden’s restaurants, cafes and pop-ups.

Then head over to The High Line for a nice stroll and admire the newest addition to the High Line, a pastel-hued floral mural. Titled “Thank You Darling,” this mural by Dutch artist Lily van der Stokker celebrates a playful, feminine realm. Her installation for the High Line continues this practice for a wide public audience, offering a sweet expression of gratitude to the millions of people passing by and neighboring buildings. Find the words THANK YOU DARLiNG (with that capitalization) on the side of a building adjacent to the High Line at 22nd Street. With the word “darling” styled in bright yellow bubble letters, the mural seems to reach out to personally thank every single person who sees it. Check it out through November 2024.

Make your way to the Upper East Side to visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Explore notions of rebirth and renewal and experience the multisensory facets of a garment at The Costume Institute’s spring 2024 exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” (on view from May 10–September 2, 2024). The exhibit will reactivate the sensory capacities of masterworks in the Museum’s collection through first-hand research, conservation analysis, and diverse technologies—from cutting-edge tools, artificial intelligence, and computer-generated imagery to traditional formats of x-rays, video animation, light projection, and soundscapes.

Make your way down to Murray Hill and discover the Morgan Library & Museum’s new exhibit, “Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature”. This exhibit celebrates Beatrix Potter’s iconic characters and showcases her unique blend of scientific observation and imaginative storytelling that shaped beloved children’s books (on view from February 23 – June 9, 2024). Potter created animal characters like Peter Rabbit, Mr. Jeremy Fisher, and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, all rooted in the natural world.