15 Art Shows to See in NYC This May
In May 2026, Hyperallergic's editors have compiled a selection of 15 essential art exhibitions to explore in New York City. Notable among them is 'Waves of Knowing' at Ryan Lee Gallery, spotlighting Hawaiian artists Satoru Abe and Tadashi Sato. The Brooklyn Museum presents 'Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens,' featuring the portraits of the Malian photographer. At Bortolami Gallery, Renée Green's 'Secret' reflects on her 1993 experience within a Le Corbusier housing project. 'When Thoughts Are Free' at 601Artspace includes contributions from Liz Magic Laser and others. Additionally, 'David Armstrong: Portraits' at Artists Space reviews his artistic journey since the 1970s, along with works by Marina Adams, Louisa Chase, Mel Kendrick, Eileen Agar, Philip Guston, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, and Bony Ramirez.
Key facts
- List of 15 exhibitions in NYC for May 2026 published by Hyperallergic.
- Waves of Knowing at Ryan Lee Gallery features Metcalf Chateau artists through May 9.
- Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens at Brooklyn Museum through May 16.
- Renée Green: Secret at Bortolami Gallery through May 16.
- When Thoughts Are Free at 601Artspace through May 17.
- David Armstrong: Portraits at Artists Space through May 23.
- Marina Adams: Works on Paper at Peter Blum Gallery through May 29.
- Louisa Chase: The Eighties at Berry Campbell Gallery through May 30.
- Mel Kendrick: Tilt at David Nolan Gallery through June 6.
- Eileen Agar and Erika Verzutti shows at Andrew Kreps Gallery through June 20.
- Philip Guston: Life with P. at Hauser & Wirth through July 10.
- How Asian Is It? at Milton Resnick and Pat Passlof Foundation through July 11.
- Lynette Yiadom-Boakye: Many A Moonlit Caveat at Jack Shainman Gallery through July 31.
- Self-Made: A Century of Inventing Artists at American Folk Art Museum through Sept. 13.
- Bony Ramirez: El Cielo Del Mar at Green-Wood Cemetery chapel, ongoing.
- Sara Ouhaddou: Al Qalam (The Pen) at Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza, ongoing.
Entities
Artists
- Satoru Abe
- Tadashi Sato
- Harry Tsuchidana
- Seydou Keïta
- Renée Green
- Liz Magic Laser
- Kameelah Janan Rasheed
- Aliza Shvarts
- Jaro Varga
- David Armstrong
- Marina Adams
- Louisa Chase
- Marilyn Minter
- Judy Pfaff
- Julian Schnabel
- Philip Guston
- John Yau
- Mel Kendrick
- Eileen Agar
- Erika Verzutti
- Musa McKim
- Charles Yuen
- David Diao
- Kikuo Saito
- Barbara Takenaga
- Kim Uchiyama
- Lynette Yiadom-Boakye
- Arthur Danto
- Augustin Lesage
- Bony Ramirez
- Jean Shin
- Sara Ouhaddou
- Khalil Gibran
- Lisa Yin Zhang
- Jasmine Weber
- Hrag Vartanian
- Valentina Di Liscia
- Isa Farfan
- Sara Reisman
- Lilly Wei
Institutions
- Hyperallergic
- Ryan Lee Gallery
- Brooklyn Museum
- Bortolami Gallery
- 601Artspace
- Artists Space
- Peter Blum Gallery
- Berry Campbell Gallery
- David Nolan Gallery
- Andrew Kreps Gallery
- Hauser & Wirth
- Milton Resnick and Pat Passlof Foundation
- Jack Shainman Gallery
- American Folk Art Museum
- Green-Wood Cemetery
- Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza
- NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Chelsea
- Manhattan
- Brooklyn
- Tribeca
- Lower East Side
- Nolita
- Upper East Side
- Upper West Side
- Greenwood Heights
- Financial District
- Bamako
- Mali
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- France
- Morocco
- Syria
- Lebanon
- Palestine
- London
- United Kingdom
- California
- Ryan Lee Gallery
- 515 West 26th Street
- Brooklyn Museum
- 200 Eastern Parkway
- Bortolami Gallery
- 55 Walker Street
- 601Artspace
- 88 Eldridge Street
- Artists Space
- 11 Cortlandt Alley
- Peter Blum Gallery
- 176 Grand Street
- Berry Campbell Gallery
- 24 West 26th Street
- David Nolan Gallery
- 24 East 81st Street
- Andrew Kreps Gallery
- 22 Cortlandt Alley
- Hauser & Wirth
- 443 West 18th Street
- Milton Resnick and Pat Passlof Foundation
- 87 Eldridge Street
- Jack Shainman Gallery
- 46 Lafayette Street
- 513 West 20th Street
- American Folk Art Museum
- 2 Lincoln Square
- Green-Wood Cemetery
- 750 Fifth Avenue
- Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza