Only in New York: World-Famous Paintings Exhibited in NYC
As the art capital of the United States, New York City has some of the most recognizable and influential works in art history. With so many museums, galleries and art tours on offer, it’s impossible to see it all unless you’re a local. However, if you know exactly where to look, you may be able to catch some of the world’s most iconic artworks right here in NYC.
'The Starry Night', Vincent van Gogh (1888)
Art Gallery
Vincent van Gogh’s iconic masterpiece is easily one of the most visited and photographed works of art at MoMA. A member of van Gogh’s nocturne series, it’s a companion piece to his work Starry Night Over the Rhone (1888). The painting has numerous interpretations, which is why it continues to be one of the most captivating works of all time.
'Woman with a Water Jug', Johannes Vermeer (1660-1662)
Museum, Art Gallery
'Washington Crossing the Delaware', Emanuel Leutze (1851)
Art Gallery, Museum
Commemorating one of the most memorable moments of the American Revolution, Leutze created this oil-on-canvas painting in Germany before it was brought over to the United States after changing ownership several times. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, a Metropolitan Museum of Art security guard glued a picture of the Twin Towers to it. Famous for its striking patriotism, this painting remains both controversial and iconic.
'Portrait of Madame X', John Singer Sargent (1883-1884)
Museum
'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon', Pablo Picasso (1907)
Museum, Art Gallery
'Black Lines (Schwarze Linien)', Vasily Kandinsky (1913)
Art Gallery, Building, Museum, School
'Broadway Boogie-Woogie', Piet Mondrian (1942)
Art Gallery
In this homage to New York City, Mondrian used lines to demonstrate a musical score (specifically jazz) and the grid of the city through visual art. It was originally purchased for only $800, and the owners later donated the artwork to the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains today.
'The Water Lily Pond', Claude Monet (1899)
Art Gallery
One of a series of paintings Monet completed at his home in Giverny, these outstanding canvases occupy an entire gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Several of Monet’s iconic paintings are exhibited throughout New York City (Monet’s work and his influence can also be found at MoMA, the Guggenheim, and the New York Botanical Garden), but you can find some of his best, including The Water Lily Pond, at the Met.
'I and the Village', Marc Chagall (1911)
Art Gallery
Chagall was one of the first artists to depict surreal visions of a dreamscape, and his astute observations made him one of the most fascinating artists of the 2oth century. You can also see his stunning work on the ceiling at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center.
'Christina's World', Andrew Wyeth (1948)
Art Gallery, Museum
Wyeth did not originally receive much publicity for this painting, which was inspired by watching his crippled neighbor crawl across her family farm. Fostering an essence of magical realism, Christina’s World depicts the boundless strength of the spirit over the constraints of physicality. On view at MoMA, Wyeth’s majestic creation is one of history’s most widely recognized works of art.