New Museum Leaks During NYC Flash Floods, WangShui Work at Risk

On Saturday, July 19, 2026, the New Museum in New York experienced a significant water leak during flash flooding, affecting a gallery housing WangShui's work 'oppose the serpent' (2024). Video footage confirmed by ARTnews shows water pooling on the floor as staff placed buckets under active leaks and water streaming down the didactic for 'New Humans: Memories of the Future'. The museum closed early Saturday and remained closed Sunday due to the flood warning. A spokesperson stated no artwork was harmed and ticket holders were refunded. The incident follows the $82 million expansion designed by OMA partners Rem Koolhaas and Shohei Shigematsu, which opened in March 2026 after delays. The expansion faced scrutiny over reported faulty construction, including unfinished details and a compressed timeline. A Curbed investigation revealed subcontractors claimed general contractor Sciame Construction was understaffed due to simultaneous work on the Frick Collection and Studio Museum in Harlem. Sciame disputed these claims, stating issues were resolved. WangShui's work, a monumental entry from the 2024 Venice Biennale, is made of hand-anodized aluminum panels dyed with cochineal, featuring etched imagery of marine life, smoke, and earthworms. The gallery kurimanzutto was contacted for comment.