Contemporary Art in New York

Are you baffled by contemporary art, fascinated by it, or committed to becoming an artist? This course will prepare students to think and talk about contemporary art, by analyzing how curators, critics, and artists themselves understand the art made today. Students will learn how artists in New York conceive and produce their work, about the types of spaces in which new works are first exhibited, and common terms used to discuss art. The course will include numerous field trips––to artists’ studios, commercial galleries on the Lower East Side, and contemporary art exhibitions, particularly the 2026 Whitney Biennial. By the end of the course, students will feel confident both navigating the New York contemporary art world on their own as well as guiding others through it. Students will be able to encounter artworks being shown for the first time, to make sense of them, and to spark urgent conversations about them.