This article is part of our Museums special section about how artists and institutions are adapting to changing times.
This spring, museums across the country are highlighting the importance of photography as an art form, including exhibitions that present the history of the medium, celebrate experimentalists in the field and examine deeper themes that can be communicated through a camera lens. Take Jung Yeondoo’s work, for example, which uses photography to discover human connections in an isolating society, or Shirin Neshat’s photographic art, which often examines the oppression faced by women in Iran. Along with photography, there is a focus on portraiture that tells the personal stories behind the paintings and reflects the human condition, like an exhibition highlighting Vincent van Gogh’s Roulin Family Portraits. Here is a selection.
New York
NEW YORK CITY
“Arresting Beauty: Julia Margaret Cameron”
Julia Margaret Cameron was a Victorian-era photographer whose work was renowned, appreciated and criticized for its technical imperfections. Her experimental style and handling often resulted in intentionally out-of-focus images with scratches and fingerprints visible. This show is on tour from the Victoria and Albert Museum, which was the only museum to exhibit Cameron’s work in her lifetime (it was then known as the South Kensington Museum) and has now acquired around 900 of her photographs. May 30 through Sept. 14; Morgan Library and Museum, themorgan.org
“Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers”
A major survey of Rashid Johnson’s artwork is taking over the entire Guggenheim rotunda. Featuring about 90 pieces, the show unfolds through a loose chronology of his artistic practice and evolution with central themes, including social alienation, rebirth and escapism. On the top ramp, there is a site-specific installation where Johnson’s new film, “Sanguine,” is on display, along with an embedded piano that will be used in musical performances. Through Jan. 18; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, guggenheim.org
“The New Art: American Photography, 1839-1910”
Presented here is a history of American photography, from the advent of the medium in the early 19th century to the first decade of the 20th century. It showcases about 275 photographs — most of which have never been on display — along with a small collection of 19th-century cameras. Many examples of early photography techniques can be seen in this exhibition, such as daguerreotypes, tintypes, salted paper prints and gelatin silver prints, along with works by photographers such as Alice Austen and Josiah Johnson Hawes. Through July 20; Metropolitan Museum of Art, metmuseum.org
“Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction”
This exhibition explores the relationship between weaving and abstraction over the past 100 years. With around 150 pieces in a range of mediums, including basketry, painting and sculpture, it showcases how abstract artists have interpreted the function of warp and weft in their works. Previously on view in Los Angeles, Washington and Ottawa, this installment at MoMA features many pieces not on view earlier at other venues. Through Sept. 13; Museum of Modern Art, moma.org
CORNING
Glassmakers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries pushed the boundary of color in their field. Through experimentation with new techniques and formulas, they created rich hues that would eventually become integral parts of glass design, including in art and home furnishings. In four sections — “Spectrum of Color,” “Innovations in Color,” “Color and Light” and “Color Today” — this exhibition tells the story of how these groundbreaking color manipulation techniques were created and how they have been embraced by contemporary glass artists. May 10 through Jan. 11; Corning Museum of Glass, cmog.org
WATER MILL
This is the first exhibition of Shirin Neshat’s work in New York in over 20 years. Born in Iran and now living in exile in the United States, the artist and filmmaker often uses her work to explore the oppression faced by women in Iran. This can be seen here in “Women of Allah,” her first major photographic work from 1993 to 1997. Three other bodies of work are also presented at this show, one in which she examines American culture from her perspective as an Iranian in exile. Through Sept. 1; Parrish Art Museum, parrishart.org
West Coast
LOS ANGELES
“Jeffrey Gibson: The Space in Which to Place Me”
In 2024, Jeffrey Gibson became the first Indigenous artist to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale with a solo exhibition. That presentation has been adapted into a new show at the Broad — the artist’s first solo museum exhibition in Southern California. Known for its geometric designs and references to foundational American documents, Gibson’s work reflects his admiration for Indigenous makers who came before him, while also critiquing the injustices faced by those people. May 10 through Sept. 28; the Broad, thebroad.org
“Realms of the Dharma: Buddhist Art Across Asia”
Presented here is a survey of Buddhism and Buddhist art, from its beginning in India to its spread across Asia. With around 150 pieces of Pan-Asian art, including sculptures, paintings and ritual objects, this exhibition introduces key concepts of the religion. It also explores major schools of Buddhism including Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. May 11 through July 12, 2026; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, lacma.org
SAN FRANCISCO
“Isaac Julien: I Dream a World”
The British artist and filmmaker Isaac Julien uses multichannel video installations to create narratives that confront power and politics through the lens of race, class, gender and sexuality. Ten video installations made from 1999 to 2022 are featured here in the first retrospective of his work in the United States. With themes like the appropriation of African art by Western museums, many of his works examine the effects of post-colonialism on societies and individuals. Through July 13; de Young Museum, famsf.org
PORTLAND, ORE.
“Monet’s Floating Worlds at Giverny: Portland’s Waterlilies Resurfaces”
In his life, Claude Monet made it clear that he did not want varnish applied to his paintings, but in 1959 an acrylic resin varnish was applied to his “Waterlilies” (1914-15). Now, over 65 years later, this painting has been restored and the varnish removed. It is being presented in this exhibition with a focus on the historical context in which Monet painted it. At the time, he and his fellow Impressionists were inspired by Japanese “floating world” prints, and a selection of woodblock prints from the museum’s Asian art collection is featured along with works by other Impressionists such as Henri Rivière, Édouard Vuillard and Jules Chéret. Through Aug. 10; Portland Art Museum, portlandartmuseum.org
Mid-Atlantic
BALTIMORE
This exhibition sheds light on environmental injustice while also celebrating the beauty of the natural world. Featuring works by contemporary African diasporic, Latin American and Native American artists, this show examines climate change against the backdrop of European colonialism. The name comes from the Portuguese phrase terra preta, meaning “black earth,” which refers to a dark, fertile soil created thousands of years ago by Indigenous civilizations in the Amazon basin. May 18 through Sept. 21; Baltimore Museum of Art, artbma.org
PITTSBURGH
“Raymond Saunders: Flowers From a Black Garden”
Raymond Saunders transcends a variety of media and movements to create his improvisational assemblages. His lived experiences inform his practice, and he creates paintings interspersed with found text and imagery, notational marks and drawings. His pieces are often set against black backdrops that resemble classroom blackboards, a reference to both his race and his role as a teacher. This is the most in-depth survey of his practice to date, with about 35 of his works on display. Through July 13; Carnegie Museum of Art, carnegieart.org
WASHINGTON
“Essex Hemphill: Take Care of Your Blessings”
The intertextuality between Essex Hemphill’s written work and the visual art by his contemporaries is explored in this exhibition. The writer, poet and activist often wrote about race, gender and sexuality, among other social justice issues, while many of his friends and collaborators explored the same ideas through visual means. The show’s name is taken from the sign-off Hemphill often used, and it is a tribute to his legacy that lives on through the work of others. May 17 through Aug. 31; Phillips Collection, phillipscollection.org
Midwest
CHICAGO
“The First Homosexuals: The Birth of a New Identity, 1869-1939”
When the word homosexual was coined in the late 1860s, it gave an identity to people who before were marked by what they did, rather than by whom they were. During this time, art could convey nuances of identity, gender and sexuality when language was limited or nonexistent. This exhibition features more than 300 pieces by about 125 artists from 40 countries. May 2 through July 26; Wrightwood 659, wrightwood659.org
CLEVELAND
“Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow”
Takashi Murakami is known for his bright colors and anime-inspired style. Through his work, he honors the rich traditions of Japanese art using pop culture influences like anime, manga, otaku and kawaii. His artwork presented here explores the lasting effects of major events like the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States and the Covid-19 pandemic. Along with Murakami’s work, there is a re-creation of the Yumedono, or Hall of Dreams, at Horyuji Temple in Nara, Japan. May 25 through Sept. 7; Cleveland Museum of Art, clevelandart.org
MILWAUKEE
“The Brilliance of the Spanish World: El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán”
This exhibition presents more than 50 paintings by influential Hispanic artists of the Renaissance and Baroque eras. It was drawn from the collection of the Hispanic Society Museum & Library in Manhattan. The 16th and 17th centuries were times of Spanish expansion through exploration and colonization, and art and literature flourished during this period. Featured here are a range of subjects, including paintings of saints and biblical scenes as well as portraits of wealthy and influential figures. May 2 through July 27; Milwaukee Art Museum, mam.org
ST. LOUIS
“Veronica Ryan: Unruly Objects”
The British sculptor Veronica Ryan combines traditional materials, like bronze and textile, with found and everyday objects, such as envelopes and plastic bottles, to create pieces that explore the environmental effects of overconsumption and the undiscovered potential of discarded items. This is the first survey of Ryan’s body of work and features about 100 sculptures, textiles and works on paper she made over four decades. Through July 27; Pulitzer Arts Foundation, pulitzerarts.org
Alaska
ANCHORAGE
“Cold War to the Cosmos: Distant Early Warning Systems and the Arctic”
During the Cold War, the Distant Early Warning Line, a system of radar stations set up to detect incoming Soviet bombers, was installed in the Arctic region, including in Alaska and Canada. The strategic significance of the Arctic during the Cold War is examined in this exhibition. Also explored is the impact this tense geopolitical period had on American society, including on politics, art and culture. Through Sept. 7, 2026; Anchorage Museum, anchoragemuseum.org
Mountain West
BILLINGS, MONT.
“Northeastern Asia and the Northern Rockies”
This exhibition examines the philosophical ties between northeastern Asia and the northern Rocky Mountains. It features historical photographs and artworks, including some pieces created in China, Korea and Japan between the Tang and Qing dynasties. This show also highlights trans-Pacific cultural exchanges in the Rocky Mountain region, and pieces by contemporary Asian American artists working in this area will be on display. Through Aug. 3; Yellowstone Art Museum, artmuseum.org
JACKSON, WYO.
“Wildlife Photographer of the Year”
Award-winning images from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, run by London’s Natural History Museum, will travel to the National Museum of Wildlife Art for the first time. In the 60th installment of the competition, which took place in 2024, there were 59,228 entries from 117 countries and territories. These images capture fascinating animal behaviors while shining a light on the diversity of the natural world. May 24 through Aug. 24; National Museum of Wildlife Art, wildlifeart.org
New England
BOSTON
“Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits”
While Vincent van Gogh was staying in Arles, in southern France, he formed a close bond with his neighbor, the postal worker Joseph Roulin — recognizable in many of van Gogh’s painting as the rosy-cheeked, bearded man wearing a blue cap. Featuring 14 portraits of the Roulin family made by van Gogh in 1888 and 1889, this show is dedicated to the artist’s relationship with the Roulins and explores how his passion for portraiture flourished during this time. These paintings are presented with Dutch and Japanese works that informed his portrait practice, as well as work by Paul Gauguin, who stayed with van Gogh in the “Yellow House” for a short period. Through Sept. 7; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, mfa.org
SALEM, MASS.
Yu Kil-Chun Korean Art Gallery and “Jung Yeondoo: Building Dreams”
The Peabody Essex Museum is opening a new gallery dedicated to the museum’s extensive collection of Korean art. This installation will feature about 100 pieces with a focus on the 19th and 20th centuries — the only gallery in the United States to do so. Opening concurrently with the new gallery is a solo show highlighting two photography projects by the South Korean artist Jung Yeondoo: “Evergreen Tower” (2001) and “Bewitched” (2001-ongoing). Through this work, Jung uses photography to explore human connection amid the isolation of urban life. Gallery and show both open May 17; “Jung Yeondoo” closes Jan. 25; Peabody Essex Museum, pem.org
RIDGEFIELD, CONN.
“Martin Beck: … for hours, days, or weeks at a time”
This is the Austrian artist Martin Beck’s largest solo museum exhibition in the United States. The work presented here, in forms including drawing, video, sound and installation, was informed by Beck’s research into “Environments,” a series of vinyl records released in the 1970s that featured natural and meditative sounds, like waves and thunderstorms. Through his artwork, Beck examines how environments are captured and represented, along with themes of self-care and self-optimization. Through Oct. 5; the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, thealdrich.org
South
ATLANTA
“Kim Chong Hak, Painter of Seoraksan”
This is the first museum exhibition in the United States to feature work from the South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak. Known as the “painter of Mount Seorak,” Kim was an Abstractionist in the 1960s, but he rejected the Western style. Later, in the 1970s, he broke with the artistic norm of monochromatic painting often seen in Korean art at the time and began to craft his own signature style. Since then, Kim has dedicated his work to depicting the landscapes of Mount Seorak, where he spent decades of self-imposed isolation. Through Nov. 2; High Museum of Art, high.org
LOUISVILLE, KY.
“Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900-1939”
In the early 20th century, American women seeking personal and professional independence were drawn to Paris, seen as the epicenter of modernity at the time. By escaping the societal expectations and constraints placed on them back home because of their gender, class, race and sexual orientation, they gained the freedom to experiment in many artistic fields, including literature, design, music and theater. This exhibition features portraits of influential women of the time and highlights how they contributed to modernist Paris. Through June 22; Speed Art Museum, speedmuseum.org
MIAMI
“Mildred Thompson: Frequencies”
Four decades of Mildred Thompson’s multidisciplinary work is featured here, including paintings, sculptures, drawings and musical compositions. Her abstract art was often informed by scientific research and was defined by bright colors and complex marks, which she used to explore theories like quantum mechanics, magnetic fields and astrological phenomena. With around 50 pieces, this is the most comprehensive solo exhibition on Thompson’s practice to date. May 10 through Oct. 12; Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, icamiami.org
NASHVILLE
“Venice and the Ottoman Empire”
The relationship between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire from 1400 to 1800 is explored here. Around 150 works of art in a range of media, including paintings, metalwork and textiles, are featured from these rival Mediterranean superpowers. The exhibition culminates in a presentation of Mariano Fortuny’s Venetian- and Ottoman-inspired fashions and decorative arts created in the early 20th century. May 31 through Sept. 1; Frist Art Museum, fristartmuseum.org
Southwest
HOUSTON
“Tomashi Jackson: Across the Universe”
Tomashi Jackson uses her multidisciplinary art, including painting, printmaking, video and sculpture, to explore systemic inequities while also recognizing the empowerment of communities of color. She combines her historical research with geometric abstraction, color strategies and layering to visualize her observations of human experiences in relation to dominant powers in society. This exhibition presents the evolution of Jackson’s practice through nearly a decade of her work. May 30 through March 29; Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, camh.org
PHOENIX
The fashion designer Anna Sui is known for her ready-to-wear garments that take inspiration from historical dress styles and cultures. In her deeply researched approach to fashion, she has explored the worlds of cowgirls, Mods and hippies, and sampled music, books and art movements in her designs. Highlighted here are around 100 ensembles from Sui’s archive that present 12 staple archetypes of her aesthetic. Garments, accessories, hair styles, scents and sounds lend a hand in presenting her imaginative universe. Through Sept. 28; Phoenix Art Museum, phxart.org
SANTA FE, N.M.
“Marsden Hartley: Adventurer in the Arts”
The American Modernist painter Marsden Hartley was a lifelong wanderer. Originally from Maine, he traveled, lived and worked in many places, including Berlin, Paris, New Mexico and New York, before he died in 1943 at 66. This exhibition traces Hartley’s search for inspiration through about 40 paintings created over a 36-year span. These works are displayed alongside some of his personal effects and mementos from his travels, like photos and postcards, to provide a deeper understanding of his life and artwork. Through July 20; New Mexico Museum of Art, nmartmuseum.org
The post A Guide to U.S. Museums to See This Year appeared first on New York Times.
