The Whitney Biennial
The Whitney Biennial is the longest-running survey of American art, and has been a hallmark of the Museum since 1932. Initiated by the Museum's founder Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney as an invitational exhibition featuring artwork created in the preceding two years, the biennials were originally organized by medium, with painting alternating with sculpture and works on paper. Starting in 1937, the Museum shifted to yearly exhibitions called Annuals. The current format—a survey show of work in all media occurring every two years—has been in place since 1973. More than 3,600 artists have participated in a biennial or annual.
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2024
Whitney Biennial 2024: Even Better Than the Real Thing
Mar 20–Aug 11, 2024
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2022
Whitney Biennial 2022:
Quiet as It’s KeptApr 6–Oct 16, 2022
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2019
Whitney Biennial 2019
May 17–Oct 27, 2019
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2017
Whitney Biennial 2017
Mar 17–June 11, 2017
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2014
Whitney Biennial 2014
Mar 7–May 25, 2014
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2012
Whitney Biennial 2012
Mar 1–May 27, 2012
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2010
Whitney Biennial 2010
Feb 25–May 30, 2010
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2008
Whitney Biennial 2008
Mar 6–June 1, 2008
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2006
Whitney Biennial 2006:
Day for NightMar 2–May 28, 2006
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2004
Whitney Biennial 2004
Mar 11–May 30, 2004
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2002
Whitney Biennial 2002
Mar 7–May 26, 2002
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2000
Whitney Biennial 2000
Mar 23–June 4, 2000
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1997
Whitney Biennial 1997
Mar 20–June 1, 1997
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1995
Whitney Biennial 1995
Mar 23–June 4, 1995
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1993
Whitney Biennial 1993
Mar 4–June 20, 1993
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1991
Whitney Biennial 1991
Apr 2–June 30, 1991
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1989
Whitney Biennial 1989
Apr 18–July 16, 1989
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1987
Whitney Biennial 1987
Apr 10–July 5, 1987
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1985
Whitney Biennial 1985
Mar 13–June 9, 1985
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1983
Whitney Biennial 1983
Mar 15–May 29, 1983
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1981
Whitney Biennial 1981
Jan 20–Apr 12, 1981
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1979
Whitney Biennial 1979
Feb 6–Apr 1, 1979
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1977
Whitney Biennial 1977: Contemporary American Art
Feb 19–Apr 3, 1977
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1975
Whitney Biennial 1975: Contemporary American Art
Jan 20–Apr 9, 1975
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1973
Whitney Biennial 1973: Contemporary American Art
Jan 10–Mar 18, 1973
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1972
1972 Annual Exhibition: Contemporary American Painting
Jan 25–Mar 19, 1972
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1970
1970 Annual Exhibition: Contemporary American Sculpture
Dec 12, 1970–Feb 7, 1971
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1969
1969 Annual Exhibition: Contemporary American Painting
Dec 16, 1969–Feb 1, 1970
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1968
1968 Annual Exhibition: Contemporary American Sculpture
Dec 17, 1968–Feb 9, 1969
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1967
1967 Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Painting
Dec 13, 1967–Feb 4, 1968
Putting Artists on the Map
The history of the Whitney Biennial is everywhere in NYC and the we've mapped a snapshot. View our map to learn more about historical Biennial moments—from real-life locations depicted in Biennial artworks to Biennial artists' studios.
Bucksbaum Award
Established in 2000 by longtime Whitney trustee Melva Bucksbaum and her family, the Bucksbaum Award is given in each Biennial year in recognition of an artist included in the Biennial. The selected artist is considered by the jurors to have the potential to make a lasting impact on the history of American art, based on the excellence of their past work, as well as of their present work in the Whitney Biennial.