**Hyperallergic Spring 2025 New York Art Guide: Must-See Exhibitions and Events**

# Guide to the Best Spring 2025 Art Exhibitions in New York City

Spring in New York City is a time of renewal, and nowhere is this more evident than in the vibrant art scene. From renowned museums to independent galleries, public art installations, and prestigious fairs, this season offers a diverse and inspiring selection of exhibitions that cater to every artistic taste. Whether you’re drawn to contemporary digital art, historical retrospectives, or immersive outdoor experiences, New York has something for everyone.

### **Must-See Art Exhibitions in NYC This Spring**

#### **1. FUTURA 2000: Breaking Out**
**Where:** Bronx Museum of the Arts, 1040 Grand Concourse, The Bronx
**When:** Through March 30

A retrospective dedicated to the legendary graffiti and street artist FUTURA 2000, tracing his evolution from early subway art to abstract compositions and large-scale murals.

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#### **2. Robert Frank’s Scrapbook Footage**
**Where:** Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), 11 West 53rd Street, Manhattan
**When:** Spring 2025

Previously unseen footage from Robert Frank’s archives, capturing his travels and the artistic process of one of photography’s most influential voices.

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#### **3. Light: Rafaël Rozendaal**
**Where:** MoMA, 11 West 53rd Street, Midtown Manhattan
**When:** Spring 2025

Rozendaal pioneers internet-based generative art. In this exhibition, his digital animations bring ever-changing visuals to the walls of MoMA’s lobby.

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#### **4. Beijing Stories: Liu Shiming and Lois Conner**
**Where:** Liu Shiming Art Foundation, 15 East 40th Street, 5th Floor, Manhattan
**When:** Through March 21

A visual dialogue between the late sculptor Liu Shiming and photographer Lois Conner, offering contrasting perspectives on China’s evolving urban and rural landscapes.

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#### **5. Black Dress II: Homage**
**Where:** Pratt Manhattan Gallery, 144 West 14th Street, Chelsea
**When:** Through March 22

A celebration of Black fashion designers, hair stylists, makeup artists, and models, exploring the sociopolitical impact of their work.

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#### **6. ASMA: Ideal Space for Music**
**Where:** SculptureCenter, 44–19 Purves Street, Queens
**When:** Through March 24

This immersive exhibition by Mexico City-based artist duo ASMA explores themes of disintegration, contamination, and desire through eerie sculptural characters.

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#### **7. Embracing the Parallax: Berenice Abbott and Elizabeth McCausland**
**Where:** Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Avenue, Huntington, NY
**When:** Through March 30

A showcase of Abbott’s photographic documentation of urban landscapes, intertwined with the writings of art critic Elizabeth McCausland.

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#### **8. American Artist: Shaper of God**
**Where:** Pioneer Works, 159 Pioneer Street, Brooklyn
**When:** Through April 13

A speculative sci-fi-inspired exhibition rooted in the Afrofuturist themes of Octavia Butler, blending archival materials with video and sculptural installations.

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#### **9. Fashioning Wonder: A Cabinet of Curiosities**
**Where:** The Museum at FIT, 227 West 27th Street, Manhattan
**When:** Through April 20

An ornate display of fashion inspired by historical cabinets of curiosity, integrating surreal elements and colonial histories.

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#### **10. Caspar David Friedrich: The Soul of Nature**
**Where:** The Met, 1000 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
**When:** Through May 11

The first major US retrospective on this iconic German Romantic painter, known for his meditative depictions of landscapes and deep symbolism.

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#### **11. Young Joon Kwak: RESISTERHOOD**
**Where:** Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, 26 Wooster Street, Soho
**When:** Through July 27

An exploration of queer and trans identities through sculptural works, video, and neon installations.

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#### **12. Above Ground: Art from the Martin Wong Graffiti Collection**
**Where:** Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
**When:** Through August 10

A landmark exhibition tracing graffiti’s transition from NYC subway trains to mainstream institutions, featuring the works of legends like Lee Quiñones and Futura 2000.

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### **Spring Art Fairs Not to Miss**

#### **1. Affordable Art Fair**
**Where:** Metropolitan Pavilion, Chelsea
**When:** March 19–23

For new collectors, this fair offers an approachable and accessible entry into collecting, with pieces ranging from $100 to $12,000.

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#### **2. Frieze New York**
**Where:** The Shed