Sperone Westwater

Add Sperone Westwater to your New York City art itinerary and see for yourself why this impressive contemporary art gallery is considered one of the city’s most prestigious. Its regularly changing exhibitions draw together a wide range of artists from all over the world. The gallery’s move to the Lower East Side area has contributed hugely to this area’s reputation as a leading destination for art enthusiasts.

The gallery started life as Sperone Westwater Fischer in 1975, when it was located in SoHo, one of New York City’s most vibrant art districts. Since then the gallery has been through a long evolution. In its early days, it built a cutting-edge reputation for itself by showcasing minimalist work by the likes of Donald Judd and Carl Andre. It later dropped the Fischer from its name, and later still moved locations. Find the gallery today by heading to the Bowery, an art hub which is home to several of New York’s most intriguing galleries. Sperone Westwater moved here in 2010 and many other galleries have since followed.

Admire the ultra-modern glass façade of the building, which won its designers, Foster + Partners, significant awards from the Municipal Art Society of New York and the Royal Institute of British Architects. Follow the mesmerizing red box, a moving room which can be seen from the street as it travels up and down the tall, narrow building.

Inside the Sperone Westwater gallery expect to see work across all media by artists such as Helmut Lang, Susan Rothenberg and Emil Lukas. Exhibitions change frequently, so check what is on before you go.

Come to Sperone Westwater early in the day to leave time to explore the many other artistic delights offered by the Lower East Side neighborhood, such as the famous New Museum and smaller galleries including Salon 94 Bowery. It is easy to while away an entire day here on this one street, as it has so many interesting galleries.