Contemporary art works to see in New York City

From MoMA to the Met to the Guggenheim, New York City is known worldwide for its museums. With around 1,500 art galleries, it is also the city with the most art galleries. A visit to some of the contemporary art museums is a must on any trip to this iconic city. To help you organize your visit, this article offers you to discover its selection of 5 contemporary artworks that are a must see in New York City.

1. Jackson Pollock at the MoMa.

A masterpiece of the dripping technique, invented by Pollock, this is one of the artist's most impressive works. Indeed, it measures more than 2 x 5 meters. This monumental canvas dates from 1950, the year the painter was chosen to be part of the group that would represent the United States at the Venice Biennale. It is the centerpiece of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) and can be admired on the walls of Gallery 16.

2. Malick Sidibé at the Guggenheim.

This picture is perhaps the most famous of the Malian photographer's work. It testifies to Malick Sidibé's undeniable talent for capturing movement, immortalizing the atmosphere of a moment. Nicknamed "the eye of Bamako", Sidibé is one of the most important representatives of contemporary African photography. You can observe all the details of this iconic work at the Guggenheim Museum on 5th Avenue.

3. Judy Chicago at the Brooklyn Museum.

The Dinner Party is a central work of feminist art of the 1970s, paying tribute to more than 1,000 feminine and feminist figures. Indeed, each of the 39 seats of this gigantic triangular table is dedicated to a woman who made history. Each porcelain plate is placed on a placemat created using a technique adapted to the figure to whom it is dedicated. The white floor on which the table rests bears the names of 999 women engraved in gold. You can spend a long time discovering the fantastic women to whom Judy Chicago has chosen to pay tribute, before exploring the rest of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art on the fourth floor of the Brooklyn Museum.

4. Edward Hopper at the Whitney Museum of the American Arts.

Upon Hopper's death in 1967, his wife Josephine Nivison Hopper bequeathed the majority of his work to the Whitney Museum in New York. This particular painting was painted in 1961, during the last years of the artist's life. During this period, the painter's paintings became more and more refined, allowing him to concentrate on the psychology and emotions of his characters. Josephine, who was 78 years old at the time, was the model for this painting, as for many of Hopper's works. However, rather than faithfully depicting his wife or the scene, the painter represented his personal perception on the canvas.

5. Andy Warhol at the MoMa.

1962 marks the death of Marilyn Monroe, an American icon par excellence. Although Warhol used the image of the actress many times in his works, Gold Marilyn Monroe stands out as the only one to have been silk-screened on a gold support. Using this technique, the artist is inspired by Byzantine icons, giving an almost religious colouring to this work. In addition, Marilyn's face is covered with small imperfections, traces and smudges on the canvas. The trace of eye shadow covers her eyes, the impression of lipstick protrudes from her mouth. All these details make one think of a darker reality underneath the colourful works of the master of Pop-Art. Many paintings and photographs by Marilyn Monroe will follow the death of the icon, making her face eternal.