It isn't easy for the galleries on the Lower East Side to compete with those in Chelsea, nor is it easy for the museums in this neck of the woods to compete with those on Fifth Avenue's Museum Mile. But, make no mistake, art-wise the Lower East Side is in "full bloom" and boasts a growing number of happening galleries and museums with their own distinct downtown vibe. The incredible New Museum of Contemporary Art has also put the Lower East Side on the map, luring many art establishments here, including even some that have even relocated from Chelsea to (what is becoming) the LES Gallery District.
This innovative gallery is located within the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center (CVS) a huge space of 81,000 square feet that is the central hub for 53 visual artists and 12 performing arts groups. Come here to view the ongoing exhibit "Boom Box" where you'll find the gallery transformed into a vibrant celebration of colorful blooms, pods, branches and burgeoning flora. CVS is a not-for-profit cultural center that was founded in 1993 and whose focus is on the "cultivation, presentation and preservation" of Puerto Rican and Latino culture. It is also equally devoted to showcasing art and promoting artists and performance art that reflect the cultural diversity of the LES and New York City. A must-see.
One of the newer galleries in the Lower East Side, the risque and erotic-centric Munch Gallery opened in an 800-square-foot storefront with an emphasis on featuring "queer and fetish art" through paintings, photography, prints, small books, and 'zines, including an ongoing collaboration with Robert Greco of Try State Magazine. Other pieces are more contemporary and broader in style, and the space is unpretentious and laid-back unlike many Chelsea galleries. A conducive space for mingling with other unconventional art aficionados.
Orchard Windows Gallery is another innovative new contemporary art gallery on Orchard Street that is passionate about showing the work of emerging and under-represented artists. The Gallery space was established in 2010 with a clear mission of "discovering and showcasing" the best of emerging artists on the New York art scene. Great for scouting out new talent and especially up-and-coming new photographers (you can see pictures from a Max Noy exhibit at Orchard Windows Gallery here).
Lu Magnus isn't your typical art gallery. Instead, it's a salon-style gallery on Hester Street that strives to be more of an art laboratory or "an incubator for cross-collaborations between artists of different mediums and art forms." We're talking everything from film, music, dance, fashion and food. Yes, you read right: food. The idea is to engage all the senses and make art that pushes the boundaries. Palette meets palate! Great, edgy new concepts at this incredible addition to the downown art scene.
The Angel Orensanz Foundation Gallery
The Angel Orensanz Foundation gallery makes its home in a huge, magnificent former synagogue that is also home to a museum that holds permanent collections of the works by Orensanz, as well as rotating exhibitions curated for temporary exhibitions. The Angel Orensanz Foundation maintains its role in the Lower East Side art community by providing a beautiful exhibition space at the lower level of the building.
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum
The "Gateway to America" is what the Lower East Side was once to millions of immigrants whose lives are depicted in this museum. Original tenement apartments depict the cramped and impoverished living quarters endured by these immigrants. Take one of the tours for a true eye-opening experience One of the most engaging tours is The Confino Family Apartment tour, based on the Sephardic-Jewish Confino family from Kastoria (once part of the Ottoman Empire, now in Greece).
The New Museum of Contemporary Art
This cutting-edge, contemporary art museum has turned heads in this once aesthetically void neighborhood. The space was founded in 1977 by Marcia Tucker and is the only museum in New York City exclusively devoted to presenting contemporary art from around the world. Over the past five years, the New Museum has exhibited artists from Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, China, Chile, Colombia, the United Kingdom, among many other countries. The Museum presents the work of under-recognized artists and contemporary legends. The skywalk observation deck is spot on for a drink and a view.
The Best Galleries and Museums on the Lower East Side
Abrazo Interno: 107 Suffolk St., between Rivington & Delancey Sts.
The Munch Gallery: 245 Broome St., between Ludlow & Orchard Sts.
Orchard Windows Gallery: 37 Orchard St., between Canal & Hester Sts.
Lu Magnus: 55 Hester St., at Essex St.
The Angel Orensanz Foundation Gallery: 172 Norfolk St., at Stanton St.
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum: 108 Orchard St., at Broome St.
The New Museum of Contemporary Art: 235 Bowery St., at Prince St.
