Hyperallergic's associate editor Lisa Yin Zhang has curated a guide to 30 must-see art shows in New York City this summer, highlighting a diverse range of exhibitions. Highlights include Pierre Huyghe's brain activity-inspired dreamscapes at MoMA, a group show on Orientalism at The Met, mystical animal-themed exhibitions at Powerhouse Arts and the Cloisters, and a display of New Deal-era murals of Alice in Wonderland at the Museum of the City of New York. The guide also features experimental shows like a Brooklyn project space that reimagines the internet as a water system.
This guide matters because it captures a pivotal moment in New York's art scene, following major institutional milestones such as the reopening of the Studio Museum and the expansion of the New Museum, alongside landmark exhibitions like the Whitney Biennial and MoMA PS1's Greater New York. By spotlighting both marquee museum shows and small artist-run spaces, the article underscores the city's enduring role as a hub for both high-profile and avant-garde art, offering a comprehensive roadmap for navigating the summer's cultural landscape.