I spent five weeks in NYC and tried to go to a museum most days. Here's my best of!
I've put a more comprehensive list in Notion that has everything, including some places I wanted to go but didn't make it to. Since most people are pressed for time, I wanted to share my top museums [overall] and top three limited-time exhibits.
Top Museums
Museum of the Moving Image
Queens, http://www.movingimage.us/
It's a complete history of moving images, from the first people who took a few pictures quickly to how video and movie production is done today. Their interactive exhibits are a lot of fun for all ages, and, unsurprisingly, it's visually and acoustically engaging. The Jim Henson exhibit is incredible and gave me a totally different perspective of who he was as a creator.
International Center of Photography [ICP]
Manhattan, https://www.icp.org/
This has long been one of my favorite museums in NY. It usually has three exhibits and they vary quite a bit. I've seen everything from a retrospective on a specific fashion photographer to weird art photography to a deep dive on war photogs.
Morgan Library
Manhattan, https://www.themorgan.org/
J.P. Morgan's personal library. The illuminated manuscripts and the antiquities are amazing. A classic Manhattan mansion that has some absolutely beautiful rooms.
Tenement Museum
Manhattan, https://www.tenement.org/
An incredible museum about the history of immigrants to New York and how they lived. You get to walk through and see a preserved building to really understand their experience.
Intrepid
Manhattan, https://www.intrepidmuseum.org/
It's on a lot of people's list but I went on a whim and loved it. It's a decommissioned air craft carrier! They have the space shuttle Enterprise, a Concord, a submarine and tons of exhibits.
Bonus: Christie's / Sotheby's
Manhattan, https://www.sothebys.com/en/about/locations/new-york, https://www.christies.com/locations/salerooms/new-york/
On this trip I found out you can just go to the auction houses and see the art they are about to sell! I went to Christie's and they prefer you make an appointment but take walk ins. From what I understand Sotheby's is the same.
Top Limited Time Exhibits
Fragile Future @ The Shed
End December 19th, 2021 https://theshed.org/program/217-drift-fragile-future
#1 thing I saw. It's modern industrial art. Room scale. Make sure you see the performance.
Christian Dior @ The Brooklyn Museum
Ends February 20th, 2022, https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/christian_dior
One of the best fashion exhibits I've ever seen. I'm not a high fashion person but I thought this was engaging and showed the history and evolution of Dior.
Machine Hallucinations @ ARTECHOUSE
Ends January 17th, 2022 https://www.artechouse.com/location/nyc/
Fun projection mapping in a big gallery space. It's quick, like 30 minutes but enjoyable.