Best museum exhibitions in NYC
Find listings and reviews for the best New York museum shows, as chosen by Time Out's critics.
A New York museum trip shouldn't be saved for a rainy day: With specialties ranging from modern art to mathematics, sex to outer space, there a New York museum for every aesthetic and intellectual curiosity. To help you find the exact stimulation you seek, our critics have rounded up the very best museum exhibitions in New York City right now.
"PUNK: Chaos to Couture"
- Critics choice
The Met’s Costume Institute—responsible for 2011’s blockbuster “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” exhibit—investigates the aesthetics of punk culture and how it has influenced designers like Vivienne Westwood, Laura Mulleavy (Rodarte), Karl Lagerfeld (Chanel) and Gianna Versace. Expect to hear
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 Fifth Ave, at 82nd St, 10028
- Sun May 26 - Wed Aug 14
Museum
- Critics choice
- Free
Museum—a 60-square-foot repository located in an abandoned Tribeca freight elevator—debuted last May and, after closing to swap out exhibitions, has reopened for its second season. Its collection is a mishmash of found objects and artifacts donated by hobbyists; its permanent holdings include an
Howl! Festival
- Critics choice
- Free
The spirit of poet Allen Ginsberg informs this annual arts festival in the East Village.
- Various locations
- Fri May 31 - Sun Jun 2
"Edo Pop: The Graphic Impact of Japanese Prints"
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
Everyone’s seen that picture of the wave with Mt. Fuji in the background. The color woodblock impression—The Great Wave Off Kanagawa, from the series “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji” by Katsushika Hokusai—is an example of Edo period printmaking that has permeated Western consciousness. The famous
- Japan Society 333 E 47th St, between First and Second Aves, 10017
- Sun May 26 - Sun Jun 9
“Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture”
- Critics choice
The American Museum of Natural History investigates human nutrition at this wide-ranging showcase: Displays look at early diet staples and the history of agriculture, as well as current environmental, health and safety concerns relating to the food industry. While parts of the exhibit aren’t
- American Museum of Natural History Central Park West, at 79th St, 10024
- Sun May 26 - Sun Aug 11
“Making Room: New Models for Housing New Yorkers”
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
Gotham is predicted to gain 1 million new residents by 2030, and the proportion of one- and two- person households is rising. See the ways in which New York housing might accommodate these changing demographics in an exhibit co-presented by the Citizens Housing and Planning Council and MCNY. On
- Museum of the City of New York 1220 Fifth Ave, between 103rd and 104th Sts
- Sun May 26 - Sun Sep 15
Radio City Stage Door Tour
- Critics choice
This hour-long tour of the Art Deco theater includes a look at the Roxy Suite—created for vaudeville producer Samuel Lionel "Roxy" Rothafel when the stage opened in 1931—a meet-and-greet with a Rockette, and a glimpse at the VIP-signed guest book. Attendees can even pose in a (digitally
- Radio City Music Hall 1260 Sixth Ave, at 50th St
- Sun May 26 - Tue Dec 31
"Universe of Desire"
- Critics choice
MoSex explores sexual habits on the Internet, with an exhibit that documents desires and fetishes through Google searches. The study of digital behavior includes self-portraits by photographer Natacha Merritt, a collage of user-submitted O-faces and an interactive video that places visitors into a
- Museum of Sex (MoSex) 233 Fifth Ave, at 27th St
- Sun May 26 - Mon Sep 2
"Activist New York"
- Critics choice
Long before Occupy Wall Street, New Yorkers were hitting picket lines to ask for civil rights, sexual equality and other freedoms. See artifacts and photographs that tell the stories of Gothamites protesting as far back as the 17th century. The show also inaugurates the museum's new Puffin
- Museum of the City of New York 1220 Fifth Ave, between 103rd and 104th Sts
- Sun May 26 - Tue Dec 31
"Whales: Giants of the Deep"
- Critics choice
The museum’s iconic big blue whale gets some company with this exhibit, which visits New York courtesy of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Artifacts on view include a massive 58-foot-long sperm whale skeleton and items made from whale bones (such as weaponry and jewelry).
- American Museum of Natural History Central Park West, at 79th St, 10024
- Sun May 26 - Sun Jan 5
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