While in New York for a bridge event, I made it a priority to explore the Guggenheim Museum, because, after visiting Taliesin West in Arizona, I had researched the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect who designed that unusual round building.
Wright had received the commission from Solomon Guggenheim in June 1943, but World War II and other delays caused the new museum to open on October 20, 1959, a few months after the architect’s death, on April 9, 1959 at age 91. Guggenheim had died in 1949.
On the outside the cylindrical building on five levels is wider at the top than at the bottom, on the inside a rotunda bottom floor winds upwards on a spiraling ramp, topped by a large round skylight.
For a current exhibit titled “A Poem for Deep Thinkers” (April 18, 2025 to January 18, 2026) artist Rashid Johnson created a hanging garden of palm trees and other plants attached to the steel beams of the skylight above.
On the top floor Johnson installed “Sanguine,” a large steel structure consisting of plants, books and a piano.
On another floor is on display a 2012 work by Johnson: “Four for the Talking Cure.”
Faith Ringgold is featured with copies of her 1991 children’s book Tar Beach, and the original quilt painting.
In the exhibition titled “By Way Of: Material and Motion” (March 15, 2024-June 8, 2025) we noticed the collection of objects titled “Self-Construction” by Mexican artist Abraham Cruzvillegas.
“A Year with Children” (May 9-June 15, 2025) displays work done by students in elementary school under teacher’s supervision, such as “Strength in Unity” by Jeff Hopkins.
Traditional paintings from the permanent collection are also on display at the various levels of the Guggenheim, such as “Woman with Parakeet” by Pierre-August Renoir, 1871.
“Green Violinist” by Marc Chagall, 1923.
These paintings by Pablo Picasso: “Fernande with a Black Mantilla” 1905 and “Three Bathers” 1920.
In the gift shop I noticed a stylized poster for the Guggenheim.
As I walked out of this amazing display of art and ideas, I wanted to take a walk in the upper section of Central Park from 88th Street down to 60th, but it started to rain so I ducked into another museum, the Metropolitan at 82nd Street. It was crowed with people of all ages and too vast to take it all in, but I discovered an exhibit dear to my heart: “The New Art: American Photography 1839-1910.” I took a couple of photos for my musician friends.
I only glanced at the exhibit “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
I was tired and it was still raining when I walked out, but I was lucky to be able to flag a taxi for the 30 blocks drive back to my hotel.
Click on words underlined in orange to read my articles on Taliesin West, Hollyhock House, and on my 2025 trip to New York.
And watch on PBS the 1998 documentary on Frank Lloyd Wright by Ken Burns. You may access their archive with a $60 or more yearly donation, much needed now that Trump cut federal funding to PBS and NPR.
(All photos (c) Elisa Leonelli 2025)