New York City Spring 2025 Arts Guide
This New York City Spring 2025 arts guide highlights the season’s most anticipated exhibitions, performances, and cultural events across New York City. From major museum shows to public art installations and cutting-edge theatre, this guide offers a curated look at what’s happening in the city’s creative scene. With new openings and limited-run experiences, it’s the perfect starting point for anyone planning to engage with some amazing art this season.
Spring 2025 Arts Guide for New York City
Art Exhibitions
1. Amy Sherald: American Sublime
Amy Sherald’s portraiture offers a modern reimagining of traditional representation in fine art. Known for her stylized realism and grayscale skin tones, her paintings highlight everyday Black life with dignity and depth. The exhibition presents both new works and celebrated pieces that challenge historical narratives in portraiture.
- Website: https://whitney.org/exhibitions/amy-sherald
- Price: $30 admission; discounts available
- Location: Whitney Museum, 99 Gansevoort St
- Date: Open until August 10, 2025
- Phone: (212) 570-3600
- Email: info@whitney.org
2. Saya Woolfalk: Empathic Universe
The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) presents “Saya Woolfalk: Empathic Universe,” the first retrospective of the artist’s two decades of immersive, world-building installations. This exhibition delves into Woolfalk’s imaginative narrative centred around the “Empathics,” a fictional race of women capable of altering their genetic makeup and fusing with plants. Through a blend of garment-based sculptures, videos, paintings, works on paper, and performances, Woolfalk explores themes of cultural hybridity, transformation, and shared understanding.
- Website: https://madmuseum.org/
- Location: Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle, Manhatten
- Price: $20 general admission
- Date: Open until September 7, 2025
- Phone: (212) 299-7777
- Email: info@madmuseum.org
3. Jack Whitten: The Messenger
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City is currently hosting “Jack Whitten: The Messenger,” the first comprehensive retrospective of the artist’s nearly six-decade-long career. Running from March 23 through August 2, 2025, the exhibition features nearly 200 works, including paintings, sculptures, works on paper, and archival materials. This extensive collection showcases Whitten’s innovative approach to abstraction and his profound engagement with themes of memory, identity, and history.
- Website: https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5785
- Price: $30 general admission
- Location: Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St., Manhattan
- Date: Open until August 2, 2025
- Phone: (212) 708-9400
- Email: info@moma.org
4. Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) presents Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction, an exhibition that explores the intersection of textiles and modern abstraction. Running through September 13, 2025, this exhibition features over 150 works, including basketry, apparel, and other textile-based art forms, challenging traditional boundaries between fine art and craft. The exhibition highlights the significance of materials such as woven, knotted, and braided fabrics in the development of abstract art.
- Website: https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5733
- Price: $30 general admission
- Location: Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St., Manhattan
- Date: Open until September 13, 2025
- Phone: (212) 708-9400
- Email: info@moma.org
5. The Art Students League at The New York Historical Society
This exhibition celebrates the legacy of the Art Students League, highlighting its pivotal role in shaping American art. Featuring works from notable alumni, it offers insights into the institution’s influence on artistic movements and education. Visitors can explore a diverse collection that underscores the League’s contribution to the cultural fabric of New York City. As part of the New York City Spring 2025 arts calendar, this show adds historical depth to the season’s contemporary programming.
- Website: https://www.nyhistory.org/
- Price: $24 for adults, discounts available for seniors, educators, students, and children
- Location: New York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W, New York
- Date: Ends July 13, 2025
- Phone: (212) 873-3400
- Email: info@nyhistory.org
6. Nancy Elizabeth Prophet: I Will Not Bend an Inch
This groundbreaking exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum honours the legacy of Nancy Elizabeth Prophet (1890–1960), an Afro-Indigenous sculptor whose work has been historically under-recognized. The exhibition features twenty rare pieces, including hardwood portrait heads, marble carvings, reliefs, and watercolours. The exhibition provides insight into Prophet’s artistic journey and resilience in the face of adversity. Archival materials, such as her Paris diary and correspondence with W.E.B. Du Bois, further illuminate her life and contributions to modern art.
- Website: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/
- Price: $20 for adults, discounts available for seniors, educators, students, and children
- Location: Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn
- Dates: Ends July 13, 2025
- Phone: (718) 638-5000
- Email: info@brooklynmuseum.org
7. Working Knowledge: Shared Imaginings, New Futures
Working Knowledge: Shared Imaginings, New Futures” is an interactive exhibition that transforms The Bronx Museum into a dynamic space for community engagement and creative exploration. Highlights include an AI chatbot that converses about the Bronx, a dance-based poetry game, and a collaborative dictionary exploring local knowledge. These installations encourage visitors to reflect on themes of community, memory, and the future
- Website: https://bronxmuseum.org/exhibition/working-knowledge/
- Price: Free admission
- Location: The Bronx Museum of the Arts, 1040 Grand Concourse, The Bronx
- Date: Ends July 6, 2025
- Phone: (718) 681-6000
- Email: info@bronxmuseum.org
Installations
8. Fred Eversley: Parabolic Light
“Parabolic Light” is Fred Eversley’s first cast resin work designed for outdoor display and the largest to date in his Cylindrical Lens series. The sculpture’s magenta hue contrasts with the surrounding landscape and its tapering thickness results in a subtle colour gradation. The piece invites viewers to experience a range of optical phenomena, with refracting and reflecting waves of light that shift with every angle, encouraging a heightened awareness of both the inner and outer worlds.
- Website: https://www.publicartfund.org/exhibitions/view/fred-eversley-parabolic-light/
- Price: Free admission
- Location: Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park, New York
- Date: Until August 25, 2024
- Phone: (212) 223-7800
- Email: communications@publicartfund.org
9. Thomas J Price: Grounded in the Stars
British artist Thomas J Price unveils Grounded in the Stars, a 12-foot bronze sculpture depicting a fictional Black woman in contemporary attire. Positioned in the heart of Times Square, the statue challenges traditional notions of monumentality and representation in public art. By portraying an ordinary individual with dignity and presence, Price encourages viewers to reflect on identity, race, and the human condition in one of the world’s most bustling public spaces.
- Website: https://www.timessquarenyc.org/arts/grounded-in-the-stars
- Price: Free admission
- Location: Times Square, Manhattan, New York
- Date: Until June 17, 2025
- Phone: (212) 768-1560
- Email: info@timessquarenyc.org
10. Marcus Brown, American Gold: A Ship of Human Bondage
This augmented reality installation by New Orleans-based artist Marcus Brown uses digital sculpture to explore the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade. Gold-coloured human figures represent the lives of those who were enslaved, paired with an AR experience that reveals the outline of a slave ship hovering in the air. The work invites viewers to reflect on how human lives were historically reduced to cargo. It is part of a larger citywide project that maps slavery’s presence in New York’s past.
- Website: https://www.nycgovparks.org/art/art1170
- Price: Free
- Location: North 5th Street Pier and Park, Brooklyn, Albert Capsouto Park, Manhattan and Queensbridge Park, Queens
- Date: Until June 18, 2025
11. Steve Tobin: New York Roots
American sculptor Steve Tobin presents New York Roots, a series of seven large-scale steel sculptures that appear to emerge organically from the sidewalks of Manhattan’s Garment District. Crafted from repurposed steel pipes, these modernist forms evoke gatherings of figures, families, and communities, symbolizing the unseen networks that connect us. Part of the Garment District Art on the Plazas program, this immersive public art experience is free and open to all.
- Website: https://garmentdistrict.nyc/new-york-roots
- Price: Free
- Location: Broadway plazas between 39th–41st Streets, Manhattan
- Date: Until February 2026
- Phone: (212) 764-9600
- Email: info@garmentdistrictnyc.com
Performances
12. New York City Ballet’s Spring 2025 Season
The New York City Ballet’s spring season is set to impress with a mix of beloved classics and exciting new works. With performances of George Balanchine’s “Serenade” and Jerome Robbins’ “The Concert,” along with world premieres by contemporary choreographers like Justin Peck, the ballet will highlight both the classical and modern sides of ballet, bringing innovation to the stage.
- Website: https://www.nycballet.com
- Price: Ticket prices vary, check website for details
- Location: David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza
- Date: NYC Ballet’s spring season ends June 1, 2025
- Phone: (212) 496-0600
- Email: info@nycballet.com
13. Metropolitan Opera: Spring 2025 Season
The Metropolitan Opera’s spring season brings a variety of performances, from iconic operas to new compositions. This season, audiences can experience the grand productions of “La Bohème” and “Turandot,” alongside contemporary works like “Fire Shut Up in My Bones.” The Met’s unmatched stage design and world-class performers create an unforgettable opera experience for patrons.
- Website: https://www.metopera.org
- Price: Ticket prices vary; check website for details
- Location: Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center, 30 Lincoln Center Plaza
- Date: Until May 30, 2025
- Phone: (212) 362-6000
- Email: metropolitanOpera@metopera.org
14. Apollo Theatre Winter/Spring Season 2025
The Apollo Theater’s Winter/Spring 2025 season offers a dynamic lineup celebrating Black artistry, legacy, and innovation. From thought-provoking performances and exhibitions to music, comedy, and educational programs, the season reflects The Apollo’s commitment to honouring pioneers and nurturing emerging talent. As part of the broader New York City Spring 2025 arts scene, The Apollo continues to be a cultural cornerstone in Harlem and beyond.
- Website: https://www.apollotheater.org/winter-spring-2025
- Price: Ticket prices vary; check website for details
- Location: 253 W 125th St, New York
- Date: Until June 24, 2025
- Phone: (646) 476-4224
- Email: access@apollotheater.org
15. DanceAfrica 2025: Mozambique
DanceAfrica 2025 marks the 48th annual celebration of African and African American dance and culture at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). This year’s festival honours the rich traditions of Mozambique, featuring performances by The Song & Dance Company of Mozambique, Mama Coumba Saaraba, The Billie’s Youth Arts Academy Dance Ensemble, and the DanceAfrica Spirit Walkers. Beyond the stage, attendees can immerse themselves in a vibrant outdoor bazaar, film screenings, dance workshops, and community events showcasing African diasporic culture’s diverse tapestry.
- Website: https://www.bam.org/danceafrica25
- Price: Tickets start at $34.50 (fees included)
- Location: Howard Gilman Opera House, 30 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn
- Date: Ends May 26, 2025
- Phone: (718) 636-4100
- Email: info@bam.org
Whether you’re exploring groundbreaking exhibitions or attending vibrant live performances, New York City Spring 2025 arts offer something for every creative interest. From uptown institutions to downtown stages, the season is rich with culture, imagination, and expression. Stay inspired and keep checking back for more highlights from NYC’s ever-evolving arts scene. With spring coming into full bloom, New Yorkers and visitors can check out some of New York City’s Peaceful Walking Trails as Spring Arrives.
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