Art is alive in New York City. Everywhere you turn is a vibrant mosaic of history, culture, diversity, and creativity from the old masters to the energy in the neighborhoods. With an unmatched concentration of art galleries, museums, architecture, cultural institutions, public art, and live performances, this city that never sleeps is an Art lover’s dream. Now that we’ve been to New York more than once, there is less pressure to see it all and more opportunities to settle in and explore. In a city that is constantly evolving, we could see works of art on a street corner, in a park, bookstore, or even in a bathroom!

Case in point: On the left, Derek poses against a striking wall while waiting for an elevator and on the right, is an immersive installation inside the restroom at Superiority Burger where the sounds of subway trains screech through the speakers and photographs from local markets are cast in a fluorescent pink light while you use the toilet. See, art is literally everywhere.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum: Visiting this iconic museum was one of the highlights on our to-do list for a steamy summer day. Jenny Holzer’s “Light Line” was the first stream of color to catch our eye inside the dome as we entered Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece.

After gazing upward, we took the elevator to the top floor and walked down the spiral peeking in and out of the galleries on each level. It was refreshing to see such a diverse blend of contemporary works alongside famous masterpieces. Some pieces left me awestruck in contemplation while others made me chuckle. It was exciting to be able to cross this museum off our bucket list!

Keith Haring: Mosaics in the airport, subway stations, and merchandise throughout the city memorialize the young artist who filled this city with his pop art. We were working our way through Harlem on a mural hunt of Audubon paintings when we found a Keith Haring mural at the Carmine Street Recreation Center. Sadly, the pool is no longer operational but his paint lives on.

Brooklyn Museum: This was one of the “pay what you wish” museums that we were able to experience with just an hour before closing time! We were on a mission to see as much as we could before they shuffled us out. I’ve never had this kind of sprint through a museum before and it felt like a timed scavenger hunt! While we only had an hour, but we really covered our ground on each level. I couldn’t believe how many treasures were inside. The Brooklyn Museum is definitely worth revisiting!

New York City Public Library: We’ve been here before but came back to this historical destination to cool off when it felt like there was no escape from the heat. The architecture inside and out is magnificent but the rare books room has some beautiful works of art on display. We took our time browsing this museum space and then sat on a cool marble bench to recollect before our next adventure in the concrete jungle.

Even when we weren’t seeking out artwork at museums, the culture was all around us as we hopped in and out of subway stations throughout the neighborhoods of Manhattan. It was enough to take our breath away! There’s always something to discover around every corner.