What to See at the Whitney
An Insider’s Guide
There is so much to do and see at the Whitney, but if you’re short on time, here are a few of our favorites.
View of the Meatpacking District from the Whitney Museum of American Art. Photograph by Nic Lehoux
Best Views in Town
Terraces on Floors 8, 7, 6, 5
While there is no right way to explore the Whitney, we recommend starting at the top and working your way down. This is because the views from the top floor terrace are, in our humble opinion, the best in town and not to be missed. On Floor 8, the east-facing terrace offers sweeping views of the city skyline and glimpses of the Hudson River too. Floors 7, 6, and 5 also have terraces with outdoor artworks—check them out as you make your way down. Soak in these views with a sweet or savory snack, coffee, beer, or glass of wine at Studio Bar, featuring both indoor and outdoor seating.
Whitney Museum of American Art, 2023. Photograph by Max Touhey
A Monumental Painting by Lee Krasner
Floor 7
Measuring nearly 8 by 17 feet, The Seasons by Lee Krasner is enormous. Though her story is far too often overshadowed by that of her artist husband, Jackson Pollock, it is important to note that Krasner made this painting in 1957, a year after Pollock’s tragic death, when she took over their studio as her own. With new access to space, the scale of Krasner’s art grew extreme. She often painted vibrant organic shapes and forms and once said she wanted to create paintings that seemed “to breathe and be alive.” Enliven your day with a visit to this enveloping artwork on Floor 7.
Queer History Walking Tour at the Whitney Museum of American Art, 2022. Photograph by Filip Wolak.
Landmarks of Queer History
From our Doorway
The site where the Whitney now stands was once home to a thriving queer community. Starting in the 1950s, New Yorkers seeking sexual freedom and acceptance flocked to the Meatpacking District to relax on the piers, have sex, make art, organize, and party. Take our popular Queer History Walking Tour in person or via our mobile guide to learn more about the queer community and establishments that flourished in our neighborhood. We have a podcast episode about the history too.
Installation view of The Whitney's Collection: Selections from 1900 to 1965 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2019- May, 2022). From left to right: Jay DeFeo, The Rose, 1958-66; Norman Lewis, American Totem, 1960; Franz Kline, Mahoning, 1956. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
The Legend of Jay DeFeo’s Rose
Floor 7
The Rose by Jay DeFeo is nearly 11 feet tall and weighs almost a ton. To create this massive artwork, DeFeo added a thick layer of paint to her canvas, let it dry, chiseled it away, and then did it all over again. For seven years, she repeated this process of application and removal—lore has it that all kinds of detritus from her life and home became incorporated into the paint. The work holds other mysteries too. For years it hung in a conference room at the San Francisco Art Institute, but a wall was constructed over The Rose when the building was renovated. Legend grew about the painting, but it remained sealed within the walls until 1995, when a Whitney curator had it excavated and restored. Now, in the light of day, it blooms on Floor 7.
Whitney Museum of American Art, 2023. Photograph by Nic Lehoux
Sunsets from our Stoop
Gansevoort Street and 10th Avenue
The Whitney’s stoop—the steps that wrap around the Museum’s southwest corner—is the spot to catch a New York City sunset. Rest on the stairs (even after Museum hours) to socialize and watch the final rays disappear over the Hudson, illuminating Day's End, a sculpture by David Hammons made just for this moment. Enjoy it.
Edward Hopper’s Early Sunday Morning
Floor 7
Edward Hopper’s relationship with the Whitney began in 1920 when the then-unknown artist received his first-ever solo exhibition. Today, the Whitney is the largest repository of Hopper’s artwork in the world. A longtime New Yorker, Hopper painted the city around him; Early Sunday Morning, showing storefronts on Seventh Avenue, is one of his most iconic works. Keep an eye out for it on Floor 7 and for other Hoppers too—we always have a few on view.
For Families: Calder’s Circus
Floor 7
Calder’s Circus inspires awe and wonder in children and adults alike. The miniature troupe includes animals, clowns, acrobats, and more than one hundred tiny props. In a quiet and enclosed gallery on Floor 7, you can examine the detailed vignette and watch a video of Calder performing the circus in Paris in the 1920s. We promise, you will be transfixed.
From Home: artport
Online
artport is an online gallery of Internet art—art that exists entirely online. Peruse these digital artworks, many of them interactive, from the comfort of your home.
Outside: Art Beyond Our Walls
Across from the Museum’s entrance on Gansevoort Street
Don’t forget to look up on your way to and from the Whitney. Every few months, we ask an artist to create an artwork outside, always visible across the street from the Museum’s entrance on Gansevoort Street.