Guggenheim Museum

Happy World Architecture Day!

“Regards for today, I must get out and work, all embraced in thought.” -Vincent Van Gogh In 1887, while living in Paris, Vincent Van Gogh often visited the nearby suburb of Asnières to escape the city and paint in nature. "Roadway with Underpass" (1887) shows a tollhouse and tunnel that once surrounded Paris. The lone figure walking into the dark tunnel adds a sense of mystery. This painting, from Van Gogh’s later years, captures his use of bright colors and energetic brushstrokes, influenced by the art movements of the time. It also hints at ideas he would explore further in later works painted in Arles. 🏞️ Van Gogh believed in painting directly from what he saw in nature: “I don’t invent the whole picture... I find it all ready in nature, only it must be untangled.” This work is on view in our Thannhauser Collection. Learn more: https://gu.gg/3zCBlwr

Senga Nengudi's "Water Composition" series, created in the early 1970s, explores the intersection of sculpture and performance. These works consist of delicate, transparent vinyl tubes filled with colored water, which Nengudi manipulated to create organic, fluid forms evoking the vulnerabilities of the human body. In 2021, we acquired "Water Composition I", now on view in "By Way Of: Material and Motion in the Guggenheim Collection". ___ Pictured: Senga Nengudi, "Water Composition I," 1970/2019.

Goodbyes are always hard. Today, on the last day, we bid farewell to "Jenny Holzer: Light Line". A heartfelt thank you to everyone—both in-person and online—who made this exhibition a part of their journey. Your presence brought these powerful works to life. ___ Photo: Ben Hider Funding for the conservation of "Jenny Holzer: Light Line" was generously provided through a grant from the Bank of America Art Conservation Project. Additional funding was provided by the Collections Council and the International Director's Council.

How does 💡light💡 change the way we experience language? Jenny Holzer’s bright LEDs hang along the edge of the spiraling ramp, facing the center, disrupting the otherwise soft, natural light entering the space from the oculus and ground-floor windows. Holzer's writings, from her 1977–1979 series "Truisms" to later texts exploring the implications of violence and living with loss, highlight the enduring power of language. As the LED light cuts through the space, it draws attention to her words in a new way, forcing viewers to pause and reconsider their meaning, amplifying the tension between the physical and emotional weight of her texts. ⭐️ There are only a few days left to see #JennyHolzerLightLine! ⭐️ Plan your visit: https://gu.gg/47PQKFz Pictured: Jenny Holzer, Detail of "Installation for the Solomon R. Guggenheim," 1979/2024. © 2024 Jenny Holzer, Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

This is the FINAL week to see "Jenny Holzer: Light Line"! Experience a reimagination of Jenny Holzer’s iconic 1989 installation at the Guggenheim, taking over the museum's ramps with scrolling LED texts from her famous "Truisms" and "Inflammatory Essays." Alongside the LED display, explore a range of Holzer’s works from the 1970s to today, including paintings, works on paper, and stone pieces. Plan your visit: https://gu.gg/47PQKFz

This sculpture captures the energy and passion of a dancer mid-performance, with every movement feeling alive and full of rhythm. The French artist Edgar Degas drew and painted dancers over and over again late in his career, often experimenting with unusual compositions. 🩰: Edgar Degas, "Spanish Dance," ca. 1896–1911 (cast ca. 1919–26).

Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Woman with Parakeet" features Lise Tréhot, his muse and close companion from his early career. Painted around 1871, Renoir captures Tréhot in a lavish setting. Dressed in a black taffeta gown with a red sash, she stands amid ornate decor and lush houseplants, symbolizing both elegance and confinement. The parakeet reflects Tréhot’s own constraints, hinting at the complex reality behind the serene facade.

Just a few weeks left to see "Jenny Holzer: Light Line"! Plan your visit: https://gu.gg/3xTpIAb

On the anniversary of September 11, we reflect on composer Arvo Pärt and architectural firm Snøhetta's tribute, "To a Great City," presented at 7 World Trade Center as part of our 2011 "stillspotting nyc" project. This initiative allowed visitors to experience the confluence of music and architecture across five locations in Lower Manhattan, creating a quiet celebration of the city's spirit. Moving through “stillspots” around the periphery of Ground Zero, participants encountered a green labyrinth designed by the Battery Conservancy, a mirrored underground chamber at Governors Island National Monument, and entered otherwise inaccessible spaces in iconic skyscrapers. The stillness and seclusion of these spaces heightened awareness, recalibrating the senses. As listeners were drawn into the experience, they became increasingly attuned, moving toward a state of focus and tranquility. ___ Photo: Kristopher McKay