136 Best Sights in USA

After being established in 1984 in Washington, D.C., the Jack Shainman Gallery moved to New York's East Village and then SoHo, landing in Chelsea in 1997. The original 20th Street space has recently been augmented by a massive TriBeCa gallery on Lafayette Street as well as a vast former schoolhouse in New York's Hudson Valley. The galleries all show emerging and established artists such as Nick Cave, El Anatsui, Carrie Mae Weems, Tallur L. N., and Kerry James Marshall.

This mezzanine-level gallery represents some lofty artists. In addition to tapestries by modern masters like Joan Miró, Sonia Delaunay, and Alexander Calder, this gallery's specialties include works by late-19th- and early-20th-century modern artists like Fernand Leger and Marc Chagall. It is also one of the first gallery dealers for Pablo Picasso's ceramics in the United States. There's also an exhibition space in the neighborhood at  330 East 59th Street. Check the website for seasonal hours.

Contemporary art dealers have adopted this strip in the Warehouse District as their own. The street is lined with galleries and specialty shops, with the greatest concentration stretching from South Peters Street to St. Charles Avenue. On the first Saturday evening of each month, gallery owners throw open their doors to show off new exhibits to the accompaniment of wine, music, and general merriment. During White Linen Night in August and Art for Art's Sake in October, the galleries welcome visitors with artist receptions and live entertainment.

Gulf Coast artists from Louisiana to Florida display art and high-end crafts here, alongside work by the late New Orleans abstract artist Paul Ninas.

This locally owned gallery is a one-of-a-kind in the Austin art community, attracting both emerging and established international artists with a modern aesthetic. It features original drawings, sculptures, film, photography, and paintings in its main gallery space. Additionally, the "Project Room" showcases up to six installations annually.

This respected gallery near the Plaza carries mostly contemporary representational paintings and sculptures by world-renowned artists as well as impressive works by local and Native artists including Nocona Burgess and B. C. Nowlin. The gallery also features bronze statues and interesting photographs. In 2021, Manitou was sold to gallery owners from Arizona who now run this location and its sister gallery at 225 Canyon Road. Both Manitou showrooms are hard to miss thanks to the beautiful bronze sculptures outside.

Make sure a visit to Wynwood includes a stop at The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse. Martin Margulies's collection of vintage and contemporary photography, videos, and installation art in a 45,000-square-foot space makes for eye-popping viewing. Admission proceeds go to Lotus Village, a local facility for unhoused individuals and families.

Perhaps the most respected contemporary art dealer in town, the Marian Goodman Gallery has been introducing top European artists to American audiences since 1977. The stable of excellent contemporary artists in the Goodman fold includes Gerhard Richter, Jeff Wall, John Baldessari, William Kentridge, Chantal Akerman, and Steve McQueen.

The gallery has an international reputation, representing modern artists such as Magdalena Abakanowicz, Beverly Pepper, and Red Grooms; architect Santiago Calatrava; and photo-realist Richard Estes. Look for sculptures by Tom Otterness, whose whimsical bronzes are found in several subway stations. A Chelsea branch specializes in contemporary art.

This contemporary space houses the city's most impressive collection of art, including works by nationally and internationally acclaimed painters, sculptors, and photographers. It's especially well known for its bronzes and large wooden sculptures, as well as glass pieces and custom-designed jewelry. There's a second location on East Bay St., and the gallery provides works to several downtown hotels.

Decidedly un-artsy in its former incarnation as an auto-body shop, this space now hosts an exciting, artist-managed gallery that has launched many a contemporary artist onto the scene. In addition to the 1,500 square feet of gallery space, there are several project studios where local and national artists create new works in a variety of media, making for a singularly unique gallery experience for visitors. Check their online events calendar to see their current programming of seasonal film screenings, musical performances, artist talks, and community outreach activities.

Tranquil fern-draped footpaths lead through groves of cedar and Douglas fir to reveal a rich array of art installations at this delightful gallery and sculpture garden on the south side of Camano Island. More than 85 artists, many from the Pacific Northwest and Japan, show their work here, both in the sun-dappled garden and the indoor gallery.

One of the oldest and most prestigious galleries in the Southwest, Meyer's location at the bottom of Canyon Road makes it a good place to begin a stroll up the historic street. The work shown in this expansive gallery gives a good sense of the traditional Santa Fe art scene along with an eclectic selection of modern works focused on contemporary realism. They also offer an array of interesting resale art on consignment.

One of New Orleans's most beloved artists, James Michalopoulos exhibits his expressionistic visions of New Orleans architecture in this small gallery. Michalopoulos's palette-knife technique of applying thick waves of paint invariably evokes van Gogh—but his vision of New Orleans, where no line is truly straight and every building appears to have a soul, is uniquely his own. His work has become a prized adornment of many a New Orleanian's walls. Michalopoulos was commissioned to create the official poster of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2013, bringing a new perspective to some of New Orleans's greatest musicians like Mahalia Jackson, Louis Armstrong, Dr. John, Fats Domino, and Aaron Neville.

This sleek, modern-day art gallery in the Canopy Austin studio complex celebrates live music in the form of brilliant rock-and-roll photography. Founder and photographer Steve Walker created this fine art exhibit space in 2014, with whitewashed halls featuring never-before-seen images of the likes of Miles Davis, David Bowie, Paul Simon, and Austin's own son, Stevie Ray Vaughan. It's an incredible spot to snag a bona fide piece of musical history as an Austin souvenir. Check their online events calendar to see an updated list of in-store album releases, special rotating exhibits, and lots of programming during SXSW.

In this attractive storefront space a couple of blocks from the Plaza, you can admire works by the most celebrated black-and-white photographers of the 20th century. The focus is on humanist and photojournalist-style photography, and many classic images are available for purchase.

Contemporary painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, and video works by an impressive array of international artists are on display in this light-filled space with high ceilings and a seasonal sculpture garden. Among the artists are Viola Frey, known for her heroic-scale ceramic male and female figures, and a strong group of young artists embarking on their first solo shows.

See free demonstrations of printmaking, glassmaking and design, and metal alchemy in this restored, 1800s-era brick warehouse (with a whopping 25,000-square-foot interior). The studio offers group and individual classes. Call in advance to make reservations for hands-on instruction. A shop and gallery display and sell the finished products.

The first Black-owned gallery in New York, Nicola Vassell swung open its doors in May 2021 to great fanfare in the art world. The gallery's focus is on discourse that widens the lens of history and about the future of art with exhibitions by a diverse group of international artists. The space shows a cross-discipline of works using the mediums of film, painting, sculpture, and video installations.

This women-owned gallery features established, mid-career, and emerging local and international artists who work in a variety of media. The gallery also shows works by 20th-century artist Enrique Alferez, whose sculptures are on display throughout New Orleans.

The building houses both the Raton Arts & Humanities Council and the Old Pass Gallery, which presents exhibits of regional art, books, and jewelry.

SoHo pioneer Paula Cooper moved to Chelsea in 1996 and, after moving her masterpieces around the neighborhood, has finally settled into a stark-white, high-ceilinged space that's perfect for viewing art. There are now two galleries (the other is at  521 West 21st Street) that showcase the works of artists such as Carl Andre, Sam Durant, Hans Haacke, Donald Judd, and Dan Flavin.

This gallery, first opened in the East Village in 1984 and open in TriBeCa since 2013, shows new and established conceptual artists of all ages. Postmasters exhibits both young and established artists working in all media, though it seeks out new forms of creative expression that are reflective of the current time.

Run by the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association, this gallery helps to promote works by its 30 artist members through group and solo exhibitions, and other programming. Along with this gallery, the RIVAA manages another exhibition space, the Octagon Gallery within the Octagon Building, once the entrance of a hospital that's now part of an apartment complex. The latter spot features art by both RIVAA members and international guest contributors—including painters, sculptors, photographers, computer artists, graphic designers, ceramists, and installation artists.

Cajun artist George Rodrigue began his career as a painter with moody yet stirring portraits of rural Cajun life, but he gained popular renown in 1984 when he started painting blue dogs, inspired by the spirit of his deceased pet, Tiffany. Since then, the blue dog can be found in thousands of manifestations in various settings in the cult artist's paintings. Rodrigue died in late 2013, and his principal gallery, a space rather eerily lined almost entirely with paintings of the blue dog, is now managed by his family as a gallery and event space.

Founded by artists in 1928 to exhibit innovative contemporary work, SculptureCenter occupies a former trolley repair shop that was renovated by artist Maya Lin in 2002 and expanded by Andrew Berman Architect in 2014; it's not far from MoMA PS1. Indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces close between shows; see the website for details or call ahead before visiting.

This community-funded gallery embraces the ethos that art is for the people. It's a central initiative in Seattle's local art scene. Slip Gallery's frequently shifting exhibits are eclectic, modern, and thought-provoking, featuring timely art often tied to political, climate, and social justice themes. From drag shows and community art days to Belltown Art Walk and a magazine launch, Slip occasionally hosts events in this creative space.

The transformation of an industrial boiler house into an edgy arts compound is quintessential DUMBO. This 12,000-square-foot structure now hosts large-scale avant-garde exhibitions and runs a prestigious residency program. Don't be surprised if you pass a smartphone-clutching event planner on your way in; it's also a popular wedding venue.

Founded by international photographer Patrick Kahn, SNAP! is the leading repository of contemporary images in Orlando. The gallery in Colonialtown has shown cutting-edge photos from artists such as Shawn Theodore, Roger Ballen, and musician Moby, along with world premiere exhibitions, emerging graffiti artists, and even jewelry makers.

Located in Old Town Bluffton, this bungalow-turned-gallery houses the Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) and showcases the work of its local painters, sculptors, and photographers.