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.

1. '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.

2. 'Woman with a Water Jug', Johannes Vermeer (1660-1662)

Museum, Art Gallery

Originally purchased for only $800, this painting was moved from Paris to New York. It’s one of the most visited works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and one of the most popular paintings by Vermeer, second only to The Girl With the Pearl Earring (1665). Painted in the baroque style, this piece harkens the golden age of Dutch paintings.

‘Young Woman with a Water Jug’, Johannes Vermeer, 1662

‘Washington Crossing the Delaware’, Emanuel Leutze, 1851

4. 'Portrait of Madame X', John Singer Sargent (1883-1884)

Museum

John Singer Sargent is well known for his portraits, but none have left such a lasting impression as his Portrait of Madame X. While this famous painting attracts an untold number of visitors to the Met today, it was originally the subject of scandal as Madame X was thought to show too much skin. Consequently, Sargent’s career was relatively unsuccessful in France, though he found fame as an artist in America and Britain.

‘Portrait of Madame X’, John Singer Sargent, 1883

5. 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon', Pablo Picasso (1907)

Museum, Art Gallery

Pablo Picasso changed the art world with his innovative vision of the human body. The subjects of this world-famous painting are five women from a brothel in Barcelona; consistently inspired by the odalisque, this work reflects a new way of perceiving themes of femininity that were also common among his contemporaries, such as Matisse and Manet.

‘Les Demoiselles d’Avignon’ (‘The Young Ladies of Avignon’), Pablo Picasso, 1907

6. 'Black Lines (Schwarze Linien)', Vasily Kandinsky (1913)

Art Gallery, Building, Museum, School

Considered one of the first purely abstract paintings, Kandinsky was afraid that the public would denounce the unusual aesthetic of Black Lines,which can be found at the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum. However, he ended up becoming one of history’s most influential abstract artists.

7. '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.

‘Broadway Boogie-Woogie’, Piet Mondrian, 1942

8. '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.

9. '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.

10. '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.

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