5 Standout Shows to See During Upstate Art Weekend

Highlighting more than 160 participating museums, galleries, residencies, sculpture parks, artist studios, nonprofits, and cultural destinations across Upstate New York, the seventh edition of Upstate Art Weekend (UAW) kicks off on June 25, and runs through June 29.

UAW is an artist-focused, region-based platform committed to enhancing cultural ecosystems, supporting artists, and encouraging meaningful connections among art, communities, and locations. It keeps broadening opportunities for artists and inviting new audiences to enjoy the cultural richness of the Hudson Valley and Catskills.

Founded by Helen Toomer in 2020, UAW has grown from a grassroots effort with 23 organizations into a nationally known cultural platform that connects artists. “The Hudson Valley and Catskills have become one of the most exciting cultural regions in the country because of the artists, organizations, residency programs, galleries, and cultural leaders who have built such an extraordinary creative ecosystem,” shared Toomer. “UAW exists to celebrate that community, amplify its voices, and create meaningful pathways for people to experience art throughout the region.”

Scroll through to discover our five favorite exhibitions in this year’s edition, and visit the Upstate Art Weekend website and the Bloomberg Connects Guide for more activities throughout the five-day weekend.

1. Lee Ufan | Dia Beacon

Lee Ufan, a renowned South Korean minimalist painter, sculptor, philosopher, and art theorist, gained international recognition in the late 1960s as a prominent figure in the avant-garde Japanese art movement Mono-ha (School of Things). With a background in philosophy, his deeply reflective, site-specific artworks highlight the connections among materials, space, and viewers, centering on “the world as it is” with minimal artistic interference.

Offering a selection of paintings by the artist from the 1970s through the early ’90s, alongside three of his Mono-ha sculptures that extend the conceptual propositions of his works on canvas, Dia Beacon’s exhibition highlights his multidisciplinary practice. Taking place at the same time as a major exhibition of Lee’s work at the San Marco Art Center in Venice, organized by Dia, the two presentations celebrate the artist’s 90th birthday and his extraordinary contribution across disciplines and geographies.

Ongoing

2. Third Annual Exhibition | The Campus

Presenting its third annual exhibition at a former mid-century public high school in Claverack, New York, this collaborative group show features a wide selection of contemporary art across a variety of media. Over the past three years, The Campus has become a major gathering point for artists, curators, critics, and collectors during Upstate Art Weekend, highlighting works by the founding gallery members: Bortolami, James Cohan, kaufmann repetto, Anton Kern, Andrew Kreps, & kurimanzutto. This year, however, the collaborative model extends beyond the Americas to include eight UK galleries: Thomas Dane Gallery, Emalin, Herald St & Gordon Robichaux, Hollybush Gardens, Lisson, Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, Modern Art, and Vigo Gallery.

Comprising full-room installations that relate works to the existing architecture and site history rather than adhering to a specific theme, the exhibition focuses on the transitions between individual rooms, allowing each installation to function as a self-contained environment. Look for works by established artists such as John Giorno, Lee Godie, Keith Haring, Sarah Lucas, Pat Oleszko, Tony Oursler, Tschabalala Self, Francis Upritchard, and Pae White, while discovering a wide range of emerging talents.

Through November 1

3. Betty Parsons | CCS Bard’s Hessel Museum of Art

Betty Parsons was an American artist, dealer, and collector instrumental in launching and shaping the Abstract Expressionist movement in the United States. She gave critical early solo exhibitions to foundational modern artists, including Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, and Clyfford Still, while championing diversity long before it was mainstream and representing and promoting women, LGBTQ+ artists, and African American and Asian artists, such as Agnes Martin, Robert Rauschenberg, Ellsworth Kelly, and Barbara Chase-Riboud.

Although she managed the gallery day-to-day, Parsons remained deeply committed to her art, closing her shop each summer to focus on creating new work—developing a significant collection of abstract paintings, works on paper, and unique sculptures crafted from painted driftwood and beach debris. The first retrospective exploring Betty Parsons’ dual legacy as artist and gallerist, the exhibition “Betty Parsons: An Expanded World,” offers unique insight into Parsons’ artistic practice and her gallery. Curated by Kelly Taxter in collaboration with artist Amy Sillman, the exhibition showcases approximately 80 works in painting, sculpture, and works on paper, tracing Parsons’ prolific journey from a young academic painter to a seasoned abstractionist over six decades, from 1922 until her death in 1982.

Through October 18

4. Modus Operandi | The School

Showcasing nearly 20 artists working across painting, sculpture, textiles, photography, and video in a former elementary school, the exhibition “Modus Operandi” explores method not only as a process but also as a way of thinking. Derived from the Latin phrase for “mode of operation,” the expansive group show highlights how artists’ methods become closely linked to meaning. Over time, repeated choices, materials, and attention to detail create a unique logic that extends beyond simply producing an image or object.

Growing out of conversations between gallerists Jack Shainman and Angela Westwater, the exhibition features historically significant works by artists whose approaches have shaped their careers. Throughout the exhibition, method serves as a way to make ideas visible. The chosen works highlight the importance of expressing concepts through presence, rather than solely through explanation. Featured artists include El Anatsui, Radcliffe Bailey, Yoan Capote, Nick Cave, Mark Dion, Jannis Kounellis, Guillermo Kuitca, Wolfgang Laib, Amy Lincoln, Barry McGee, Meleko Mokgosi, Richard Mosse, Bruce Nauman, Elizabeth Neel, George Rickey, Faith Ringgold, Alexis Rockman, Susan Rothenberg, and Rose B. Simpson.

Through November 28

5. Tutto Boetti 1966 – 1993 | Magazzino Italian Art

An influential Italian conceptual artist who gained fame in the late 1960s through the Arte Povera movement, Alighiero Boetti investigated themes such as duality, the balance between order and chaos, global geopolitics, and the strength of collaboration in his art. In 1968, he legally changed his name to Alighiero e Boetti (Alighiero and Boetti), emphasizing his focus on twinning and identity duality by framing his artistic persona as two separate selves.

The exhibition “Tutto Boetti 1966-1993” showcases about 30 works by the artist, beginning with key pieces from the museum’s permanent collection, including early 1960s works—many of which were part of the artist’s first solo show—alongside loans from the Boetti estate and a notable private collection, including his famous bronze self-portrait, created in 1993, a year before his death. The title, which translates as “All Boetti,” suggests a comprehensive overview of the artist’s work, while referencing his acclaimed “Tutto” series, large textile pieces from the 1980s that combine a complex mix of images and symbols. The exhibition ends with highlights that emphasize the remarkable coherence of an artist who built his practice around systems, collaboration, and openness to the world, as well as his fundamental role in shaping many of the key themes of Arte Povera.

Through April 2028