Hyperallergic's staff and contributors present their picks for the best New York City exhibitions of 2025, highlighting a year marked by major museum reopenings, including the Studio Museum in Harlem after a seven-year hiatus and the Frick's expansion. Notable shows include Amy Sherald's 'American Sublime' at the Whitney Museum, Rashid Johnson at the Guggenheim, Wifredo Lam at MoMA, and surveys of Indigenous design at the Ford Foundation Gallery, Seydou Keïta at the Brooklyn Museum, and hometown heroes like Jack Whitten at MoMA and Coco Fusco at El Museo del Barrio. The list also features Saya Woolfalk at the Museum of Arts and Design, Nayland Blake at Matthew Marks Gallery, and Ben Shahn at the Jewish Museum.
This roundup matters because it captures a transformative year for New York's art scene, with institutional renovations and a diverse array of exhibitions that both make and remake art history. The selections reflect a shift toward inclusive narratives, spotlighting Black portraiture, Indigenous design, and queer histories, while also celebrating local artists and global figures. The article serves as a critical record of the city's cultural vitality, offering readers a curated guide to the most significant shows of 2025.