Current exhibition: Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, “The Marionette Maker”
Through June 11
Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller are internationally recognized for their immersive multimedia works that often engage viewers in mysterious and dreamlike narratives. For their fourth solo exhibition with the gallery, the artists present their kinetic installation The Marionette Maker (2014), comprising a full-scale vintage caravan that houses myriad characters in a haunting environment. The artists’ interactive sound installation, Experiment in F# Minor (2013), will also be on view. 531 West 24th St (212-206-9100, luhringaugustine.com). Tue–Sat 10am–6pm.
Photograph: Courtesy Luhring Augustine
How many art galleries are there in New York City? While there’s no official figure, estimates range from 500 to 1500 venues, displaying and selling everything from antiquities to the latest thing. And while there’s no exact numerical breakdown for contemporary art shows specifically, they, too, range in the hundreds, making New York City the single greatest concentration of galleries on the planet. For art lovers, this provides a literal cornucopia of stuff to look at—and all of it for free. Gallery shows are open to the public and often rival the quality of exhibits at art museums charging you $20 and up to get in. All it takes is a little walking, so to point you in the right direction we offer this guide of the city’s best galleries.