Winter at the Whitney
A Seasonal Guide

Our favorite ways to get festive and celebrate the season at the Whitney. 

A Taste of Winter
Frenchette Bakery at the Whitney, Floor 1

Come in from the cold and warm up with a hot beverage at Frenchette Bakery at the Whitney. Relax in velvety upholstered booths, breathe in the smell of freshly baked bread, and observe the holiday hustle and bustle of the Meatpacking district through the floor-to-ceiling windows in our newly-opened restaurant (Whitney Members receive a 10% discount). You'll see an artwork by Rashid Johnson too—New Poetry, a steel-grid sculpture laden with plants and ceramics, extends from within the cafe out onto the plaza. 

Twinkling City Lights
Evening terrace views, Floors 5, 6, 7, and 8

There’s no better place to admire the city’s twinkling lights than atop one of the Whitney’s terraces. Soak in Gansevoort Plaza’s spectacular holiday lights display and panoramic views, and don’t forget to look up! Nancy Baker Cahill: CENTO, a monumental augmented reality “creature,” drifts through the air above the terrace on Floor 8. Getting chilly on our outdoor terraces? Cozy up and refuel indoors with a warm beverage or bite at our 8th floor at Studio Bar, which offers coffee, pastries, snacks, a full bar, and lunch. 

The Holiday Magic of Picturesque Pines
Gansevoort Plaza

Experience the magic of the holidays with Lights on the Cobbles, returning to the neighborhood on December 11 and up through mid-January. Gansevoort Plaza is transforming into a lush woodland wonderland—over 100 deciduous and evergreen trees, reaching heights of up to 25 feet, will fill the plaza, complemented by dazzling holiday lights. Take in the cheer of the annual lights installation while wandering through meandering pathways lined with Eastern White Pines, Norway Spruces, Red Maples, and more. Want to take in more greenery? Enjoy an indoor citrus orchard in our Floor 8 galleries, Survival Piece #5: Portable Orchard, on view through January 5, 2025.

A Feast for the Senses
Edges of Ailey, Floor 5

Immerse yourself in a rich tapestry of dance and cultural history with Edges of Ailey, our tribute to visionary artist and choreographer Alvin Ailey, on view until February 9th. The show features a dynamic array artworks by over eighty artists—from Jean-Michel Basquiat to Jennifer Packer to Kara Walker—and never-before-seen archival materials, including letters, choreographic notes, and a dynamic montage of Ailey’s life and dances in an immersive video installation that fills the gallery. And of course, catching a live performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at City Center is a must. 

Give the Gift of Art
Floor 1 and Online

From Whitney branded wearables to artful home decor to exhibition catalogues, the Whitney Shop has something for everyone on your list. Peruse our holiday must-haves to gift a spark of creativity this season. Plus, for a limited time, you can purchase a Membership Bundles, which includes a full year of membership and exclusive Whitney merch. With a Whitney Membership, you’ll have unlimited free admission for one as well as special access to exhibition previews, discounted guest tickets, Member Nights, shopping discounts, and more. 

New Year, New You
Claes Oldenburg’s monument to new beginnings, Floor 7

With a new year comes a new beginning and the opportunity to kick old habits once and for all. This enormous soft sculpture by Claes Oldenburg stands as a monumental reminder to set and keep a New Year’s resolution. The work is so oversized and the surface so supple that the curled and crumpled forms of the discarded cigarettes feel almost human. Are these cigarette butts or the bodies that consumed them? If only we all had a reminder as formidable as this one to keep us on track! 

Have a Hopper Holiday
Treasures from our Edward Hopper collection, Floor 7 and online

The holidays are for celebrating the people and places we love. Edward Hopper was a native New Yorker and many of his paintings depict our favorite city. Check out Hopper’s depictions of New York like City Roofs and Early Sunday Morning, which feature the crisp green and red-rust hues of the holiday season, cast in frosty blue light. Visit these and several other Hopper works in our galleries on Floor 7—the Whitney is the largest repository of Hopper’s artwork in the world. And grab the perfect gift for the Hopper-admirers in your life with clothing, stationary, and more inspired by the artist at the Whitney Shop.  

Take Home a Mini Print
Mini print vending machine at the Whitney Shop 

Check out artist Ana Inciardi’s newly installed mini print vending machines at the Whitney Shop. Insert four quarters and receive a surprise lino print inspired by the city: a bagel, a slice of pizza, and a bodega cat, to name just a few. Whimsical and wacky, these mini prints make fabulous (and affordable at just $1!) holiday gifts.

Commiserate the Cold
Winter Bitch by Ed Clark, Floor 7 

While the title of this painting, Winter Bitch, refers to a particularly frigid winter spent in Paris, Ed Clark has conceded that several people in his life have questioned if it is actually about them, ha! In Clark’s defense, the colors have an icy hue, and the enormous brushstrokes—a record of the artist’s bodily force and sweeping gestures—evoke the physical effort required to move through a city in winter. Clark made Winter Bitch using a wide housepainter’s brush but he famously painted using push brooms too, over canvases placed on the floor.

Spirit of the Season
Holiday Playlist and Toy Drive 

Nothing gets us more in the holiday mood than the sounds of the season. We surveyed Whitney staff and put together our favorite winter tunes. It is our musical gift to you. Speaking of gifts, the Whitney is hosting a toy drive. In collaboration with the city, we are collecting new, unwrapped toys for families in all five boroughs. Join us and learn more about the toy drive. 

A Visit to Toyland
Calder's Circus, Floor 7 

It’s not hard to imagine that when the Museum closes, Calder’s Circus comes to life. This exuberant artwork inspires awe and wonder in children and adults alike. The miniature circus troupe includes animals, clowns, acrobats, and more than one hundred tiny props like nets, flags, carpets, lamps, and musical instruments. In the galleries, watch Alexander Calder perform the work for friends and colleagues, who ate peanuts and used noisemakers while the artist moved the tiny figures and narrated the actions. Calder’s Circus is also an example of the artist’s early exploration of movement—a defining characteristic of his later works.

Other Holiday Favorites Around Town
New York City

There’s no place like the holidays in New York City! From the Whitney, take the High Line north to Hudson Yards for a must-visit holiday destination, featuring over two million glittering lights throughout the neighborhood. Head to midtown to experience Rockefeller Center and its iconic Christmas tree, and throughout the winter season enjoy The Rink, the Rockettes, and skyline views at the top of the Rock. In the Bronx, the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden features miniature trains winding through replicas of city landmarks, all made of natural materials.

Plan your visit
What to know before you go.