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6 Enthralling Art and Design Exhibitions to See in New York Now

From an extraordinary Arshile Gorky painting to an expansive show of trailblazing Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa, these are the most exciting and thought-provoking shows of the month

By Lucy Rees
Minimalist art exhibit with abstract humanoid sculptures and black spherical elements in a brightly lit gallery space.
Xavier Veilhan’s exhibition at Perrotin gallery. Photo: Courtesy of Perrotin
Three intricate, vertically hanging metallic sculptures with organic, branching designs against a light background.
Ruth Asawa, Untitled, S.237, 1958. Photo: Courtesy of David Zwirner

1. “Ruth Asawa” at David Zwirner

This must-see exhibition at David Zwirner’s West 20th Street location presents Ruth Asawa’s most iconic and beloved looped–wire sculptures alongside her remarkable and lesser-known drawing practice as well as smaller, rarely seen sculptures. Curated by Helen Molesworth, the show is slated to be one of the most comprehensive looks at the late Japanese American artist’s work to date, following the gallery’s first two shows of her work in 2017 and 2020. Unbeknownst to most, Asawa’s art training was primarily in design and drawing, and the act of drawing was part of her daily routine. The swirling, meandering lines and patterns on paper mirror her three dimensional sculptures, which can be considered drawings in space. The thoughtful show attempts to shed light on how art and life were truly intertwined for the trailblazing artist as she was in constant pursuit of pure form. Opens November 4  

 

 

 

 

Colorful painting of five people in lavish period clothing, seated in an elegant room with a chandelier.
Genevieve Figgis, Queens, 2021. Photo: Courtesy of Almine Rech

2. “Genieve Figgis: Immortal Reflection” at Almine Rech New York

Inspired by rococo painters like Jean-Honoré Fragonard and François Boucher, on-the-rise talent Genieve Figgis creates what she dubs “cover versions” of their work. The paintings on view at Almine Rech explore notions of pleasure and satire, sensitivity and subversion. Figgis’s unique take on the originals is filled with her own personality, a delightful reimagining of the historic that is sure to impress. Opens November 4 

Abstract painting with muted colors featuring fluid shapes and brushstrokes in a white frame against a plain background.
Arshile Gorky, Untitled (Virginia Summer), 1946- 1947. Photo: Courtesy of Hauser and Wirth

3. “Arshile Gorky” at Hauser and Wirth

On November 16, art lovers are sure to be captivated by the story of an Arshile Gorky painting that was found hidden under one of his works on paper during a routine check by conservators. Displayed on the walls of the National Gallery of Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art for years, The Limit (1947) concealed a masterpiece underneath that was only revealed after conservators Michaela Ritter and Olivier Masson of the Swiss restoration studio Masson and Ritter painstaking pulled back the layers. The newly discovered artwork, named Untitled (Virginia Summer) (1946-47) by his estate, is an entirely new addition to his oeuvre and will be on view at Hauser and Wirth this November. Opens November 16 

Person walking past a modern art mobile with black spheres suspended in a bright, spacious gallery.
An installation view of Xavier Veilhan’s show at Perrotin. Photo: Courtesy of Perrotin
Modern art gallery with abstract sculptures, including a black figure on a wooden cube and geometric shapes floating in air.
An installation view of Xavier Veilhan at Perrotin. Photo: Courtesy of Perrotin

4. “Xavier Veilhan: Autofocus” at Perrotin

The celebrated multidisciplinary French artist Xavier Veilhan is bringing a group of dazzling new figurative and architectural sculptures to the third floor of Perrotin’s New York gallery.  Titled “For Autofocus,” the must-see show is a continuation of his experiments in movement and memory. Responding to the soaring double-height ceilings of the space, Veilhan’s figures are sculpted at different scales, ranging from life-size to monumental. “The work’s appearance is conditioned by the spectator’s gaze,” says the artist. Opens November 3 

Modern dining room with wooden staircase, table, chairs, and decorative art pieces on shelves and pedestals.
An installation view of “Open and Closed” at the Future Perfect. Photo: Courtesy of the Future Perfect

5. “Open and Closed” at the Future Perfect

The contemporary design gallery the Future Perfect has partnered with the Danish Arts Foundation to present nine emerging Danish artisans for their latest show. Visitors will discover the work of nine creatives, who were each tasked with exploring the concept of a box, both metaphorically and as a functional object. “The box is a poignant symbol of spaces as they are opened and closed and of the rigid conditions under which many artworks are made and presented,” says director Laura Young, who curated the show. On view through December 15 

Contemporary art gallery with sculptures and large windows, displaying various abstract pieces on light wooden flooring.
An installation view of the exhibition at Carpenter’s Workshop gallery. Photo: Courtesy of Carpenter's Workshop

6. “Stories from the New World” at Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery

“Stories from the New World” is an an exhibition of newly commissioned work from seven remarkable artist-designers, all based in the U.S. and Caribbean, with engaging themes of identity, heritage, and place. Spearheaded by Ashlee Harrison, the gallery’s director of Americas, the show is guest-curated by Wava Carpenter and Anna Carnick of Anava Projects. “We’re honored to work with such an incredible group of young artists for this exhibition,” says Harrison. “The work of these seven incredible talents speaks strongly to their personal narrative, and explores use of experimental techniques, materials, and processes in a very poetic and sculptural manner.” Highlights include seaweed-based works by Indian-born, New York-based textile artist Anubha Sood and Colorado ceramicist Isabella Maroon’s works that are dotted with colorful remnants of her past creations. Through January 22