For most of its history, the Whitney Museum, originally founded by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in 1931, was located on New York’s Upper East Side, in the building that now houses the Met Breuer. In 2015, it reopened in a new, larger space designed by Renzo Piano in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. The institution’s permanent collection is especially strong in works by leading artists from the first half of the 20th century, and as you might expect from its official name, American artists are particularly well represented—Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Stuart Davis, Edward Hopper, and many others. Visiting exhibitions tend to focus on living artists who are still producing new pieces; the museum’s Whitney Biennial (now taking place in odd-numbered years) is arguably the preeminent showcase in the United States for young contemporary artists. In addition to the galleries, the building has a number of outdoor terraces dotted with sculptures and offering views of Lower Manhattan and the Hudson River.
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Modern Art in Chelsea
The new location of the Whitney Museum of American Art, recently opened between The High Line and the Hudson River. It’s a great way to add some extra culture to your visit to NYC. Make a day out of a trip to Chelsea, by stopping by after a stroll through High Line Park. The Whitney features artists of the twentieth-century, with a special focus on artists that are still living.
The Whitney for American Art
Established in 1931 by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney as a showcase for American artists, the Whitney continues to be the premier museum in the world for 20th-century American art. It displays masterworks from contemporary artists such as Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe and Roy Lichtenstein.
