“Top Six Must-See New York City Shows for the Holiday Season”

# Exploring the Art World: Must-See Exhibitions in New York City

The frenetic pace of life, especially around the holidays, often leaves us craving moments of quiet reflection and inspiration. What better way to replenish the mind and soul than by exploring the world of art? With a wealth of exhibitions currently on display in New York City, art enthusiasts and casual visitors alike have plenty of opportunities to connect with works that resonate emotionally, challenge intellectually, or simply spark joy. From avant-garde pioneers to contemporary creators, this guide highlights some of NYC’s must-see art shows — an excellent way to escape the chaos and delve into the beauty, humor, and poignancy of the human experience.

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## **Deshaun Price: Thoughtful Portraits at 15 Orient**
**Location:** 15 Orient, 72 Walker Street, Tribeca
**Dates:** Through January 4, 2025

Deshaun Price’s latest exhibition features contemplative portraits of people and landscapes that feel both complete and in progress, creating a world where contrasts merge. Held at the gallery’s new Tribeca location, the show feels raw yet intimate. Price’s figures seem to straddle the line between presence and absence, inviting viewers to contemplate their own roles in a world simultaneously connected and isolated. This exhibit leaves visitors with “necessary and new questions” about their humanity and place in the world.

*Takeaway:* A deeply reflective and personal exhibition that’s as much about the artist’s world as it is about ours.

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## **Thomas Schütte: Humor in the Abstract at MoMA**
**Location:** Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53rd Street, Midtown
**Dates:** Through January 18, 2025

Renowned German sculptor Thomas Schütte’s retrospective at MoMA offers playful yet thought-provoking moments. His intriguing *Melonely* series, combining the words “melon” and “lonely” with a nod to melancholy, is a centerpiece. These sculptures explore themes that seem just beyond comprehension, their whimsical shapes teasing and engaging the viewer’s mind. This expansive collection reveals Schütte’s ability to blend dry humor with artistic depth, generating discussions around the absurd and the academic.

*Takeaway:* A large, multifaceted exhibition appealing to viewers who enjoy humor paired with intellectual curiosity.

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## **Alexandra Exter: Avant-Garde Vision at The Ukrainian Museum**
**Location:** The Ukrainian Museum, 222 East 6th Street, East Village
**Dates:** Through January 19, 2025

The Ukrainian Museum is putting long-overdue spotlight on Alexandra Exter, a dynamic figure in early 20th-century European avant-garde art. *The Stage Is a World* celebrates Exter’s multidisciplinary talents, including painting, theater design, fashion, and filmmaking. Her masterful interplay of Cubism, Futurism, and Constructivism is vividly displayed in almost 30 works. Highlights include her vividly surreal costume designs and the awe-inspiring pieces *Masked Figures by the Banks of a Venetian Canal* and *Carnival Procession,* which blur lines between the theatrical and the abstract.

*Takeaway:* A bold celebration of a trailblazing artist who seamlessly wove multiple artistic disciplines into a single, striking vision.

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## **Vital Signs: Artists and the Body at MoMA**
**Location:** Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53rd Street, Midtown
**Dates:** Through February 22, 2025

This thoughtfully-curated exhibition dives into the complex ways artists have explored the human body and the connections—or disconnections—it fosters. From Ted Joans’s exquisite corpse collaboration featuring 132 artists to ethereal works like Rosemary Mayer’s *Galla Placidia,* the show avoids a sensational presentation of corporeality. Instead, it takes a more reflective approach, presenting the body as a connective plane between past, present, and future.

*Takeaway:* A celebration of the human form and its creative potential, this exhibition offers food for the soul and mind.

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## **Ceremonies Out of the Air: Ralph Lemon at MoMA PS1**
**Location:** MoMA PS1, 22–25 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City
**Dates:** Through March 24, 2025

Known as a groundbreaking choreographer, Ralph Lemon has transitioned seamlessly into the world of visual and performance art. This expansive retrospective includes collaborative works, detailed drawings, and evocative sculptures. A highlight is a four-channel video and sound installation developed with Kevin Beasley, as well as an immersive performance series titled “Tell it anyway.” Lemon’s work invites deep emotional engagement and encourages audiences to reflect on how movement and form shape our stories.

*Takeaway:* Expect an atmospheric, multilayered experience that merges performance, visual art, and emotional storytelling.

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## **Above Ground: The Martin Wong Graffiti Collection at MC