May 12, 2026
The newcube New York Guide
Article by newcube
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Straight from the Venice Biennale to New York art week, barely enough time to unpack, but that’s kind of the point. Art week has its own momentum, and every time it feels bigger, faster, and somehow more exciting. Frieze, NADA, Independent, Future Fair, Esther III, TEFAF, and everything else! As a part time New Yorker, our founder Bibi Zavieh gets to experience the city and its art scene as an insider, and as someone still constantly discovering new corners of the city. It’s wild, busy, edgy and incredibly unique.
This guide isn’t about trying to see everything. It’s about finding the shows, conversations, and moments actually worth your time, from the major fairs to the smaller spaces that end up staying with you long after the week is over. Think of it as a curated list from someone moving through it all in real time, running on little sleep, too much coffee, and genuine excitement for what artists, galleries, museums and auction houses are bringing to the city this year.
SEE
New York offers some of the most important institutions in the world and, in the frenzy of art week, they’re often the best escape when you seek a slightly slower pace. This year, the big (slightly controversial?) news in town is the reopening of the New Museum with its OMA extension, everyone seems to have an opinion already. There’s also the reopening of the Studio Museum in Harlem, courtesy of Adjaye Associates. Go see these for yourself. Happy to compare thoughts after. Beyond that, these are other spaces I think are genuinely worth stepping away from the fairs for.
GALLERIES
Gallery hopping in New York at all times feels chaotic and mostly impossible to do properly, which is part of the fun. You’ll miss things, double back downtown for a show someone mentions over coffee, and end up staying way too long somewhere you didn’t even plan to go. These are a few spaces and exhibitions I’m most excited about.
Huguette Caland at Lisson – Organized by independent curator and writer Tarini Malik, this presentation charts Caland’s groundbreaking career across five decades and three continents and will be the first time her work is presented in New York in over five years.
Colnaghi – If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with advising our collectors on building eclectic collections.
EAT & DRINK
A lot of New York art week happens after the openings. Over wine, dinners that start too late, or coffees that turn into full on meetings. These are the places I keep coming back to, admittedly with a slight West Village bias. Some are impossible to book, some are best walked into late, all feel very New York. I added a few shops too, for when you need a break from looking at art for 12 hours straight.
DRINK
Paquita – a tiny spot for tea, I love it!
Bar Oliver – to see and be seen!
Sake Bar Asoko – By now, you might know I’m obsessed with Japanese culture.
EAT
Or’esh – Yes, getting a reservation is impossible, if you find a spot take me with you.
Buvette – a classic.
Via Carota – another classic
Café Select – also a classic! I guess I’m into classics.
JG Melon – The old spot where you’ll always run into art dealers.
L’Industrie Pizzeria, obviously.
