The final months of the year bring a rush of new exhibitions, performances, and pop-ups to Big Apple. From contemporary art to fashion, Elephant brings you the new and now in the city this autumn and winter.
Before New Yorkers enter their yearly phase of seasonal depression, many are going out for one last hurrah. From long-awaited museum retrospectives to experimental installations tucked away on side streets, the city’s creative calendar is packed with reasons to bundle up and head out. October through December is when New York’s art world feels both reflective and restless, looking back at the year while pushing into new territory. It’s the perfect time to celebrate. Expect surprising debuts, bodies of work you’ve always dreamed of seeing, and plenty of conversation-starters for future cocktail parties that capture the spirit of what’s happening in New York City in late 2025.
For those who appreciate the intersection between fashion and art, friends Leah Hennessey, Ruby McCollister, and Arabella Aldrich (a.k.a. the coolest girls in NYC) just launched a new store called Surrender Dorothy—a destination not to be missed. Tucked away in a brownstone on 13 West 17th Street, Hennessey reflects that “to see real beauty, or even to hear about the existence of beauty, gives me hope for technology and humanity.” Browse through racks of archival costumes, immerse yourself in dollhouses showcasing perfume and jewellery, and walk up a gorgeous flight of stairs to check out the stage where they’ll be hosting performances through the end of the year. After visiting their space, make sure to check out the Women’s History Museum show at Amant. McCollister attended the opening and spoke of it in a state of rapture, overdosing on the show’s exquisiteness. It offers a glimpse of a higher level of consciousness—the kind that reminds you what beauty can still do.
Speaking of vintage, James Veloria is always up to something that makes you want to dress to impress. The perfectly curated store—every fashion collector’s dream—has a few incredible upcoming pop-up collections, including an ode to Issey Miyake and a curated selection of Anna Sui’s pieces from the nineties and noughties.
On November 16, check out Wardhole, a blend of comedy and art curated by Andy Ward. Located at the aesthetically-pleasing Casette, the show has many fabulous performers lined up, and if you’re not feeling shy, go showcase what you’ve got! Audience members are also invited to perform during an open mic portion of the evening. All proceeds from the night go to Brooklyn Jail Support—who doesn’t love to laugh and support the future of New York at once?
For lovers of all things new, Aware, which opened on October 24, is a place you won’t leave empty-handed. It’s a brand-new art and fashion shop in Greenpoint, offering a curated selection of secondhand and vintage pieces ranging from designer finds to quality everyday basics, with a few restored or repaired items that have been given new life. During the holiday season, they’ll also offer personal styling appointments and help you pick out gifts for everyone on your list. And while you’re in Greenpoint, don’t miss Store Called Store, a timeless shop that has everything from vintage cookie jars to rocks painted like candy bars. Run, don’t walk, because everything is one of a kind.
Uptown, assuming you already have tickets for The Frick, which you can buy a day in advance (or wait in the queue), here is what else is happening at New York’s museums. The Studio Museum in Harlem is also a must-visit! For the rest of the year, they are presenting an outstanding lineup of exhibitions, including TO BE A PLACE, opening November 15. This exhibition offers a visual timeline that celebrates the museum’s sixty-year history and its evolution into the vital cultural institution it is today. Be sure to also check out Tom Lloyd’s neon works, debuting the same day. And The Met Cloisters? Duh! Make sure you go before it’s too cold for a bring-your-own-lunch-and-sit-on-a-quilt-outside vibe. It’s also a fantastic place to take someone on a date.
Meanwhile, in Midtown, Ruth Asawa is finally getting the retrospective she deserves at The Museum of Modern Art, which opened on October 19. The exhibition features about three-hundred objects spanning six decades of her practice. According to MoMA staff, only approximately ten to fifteen percent of the collection is on view at once, due to space and rotation constraints, but you’ll still want to set aside at least three hours to fully appreciate this major exhibition. It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t love Helen Frankenthaler’s work. She has a show opening at MoMA on November 18, and that sounds like the perfect way to start the holiday season. Don’t forget to get yourself a magnet or postcard at the gift shop to send to a loved one.
Downtown, it’s the one-hundredth anniversary of Calder’s Circus. Imagine how different life was a century ago and enter the astonishing mind of the artist and one of the most prolific works of the Whitney’s collection. And start counting down the days for the Roy Lichtenstein retrospective, which is due to open in 2026. Polka dots are very in this season! The Society of Illustrators, a place where you’ll definitely want to find yourself at some point, has the illustration art of Edward Gorey up until January 3—an exhibition that showcases more than eighty original illustrations.
And don’t forget to do a gallery day! Zoë Argires’s solo show opens in December at Alex Berns Gallery. You’ll want to get there early, because critics are predicting a line out the door. Make a pit stop in Chelsea to check out the Luc Tuymans show at David Zwirner, along with Joan Mitchell, as both exhibitions open on the same day. Word on the street is that the art books of these exhibitions will be on everyone’s wishlists.
