The New York Public Library offers free major exhibitions and special displays at three of its research library locations—the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Library for the Performing Arts, and Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture—and community showcases at many of its branch locations throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.
Current Exhibitions
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Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures
OngoingStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures showcases some of the most extraordinary items from the 56 million in…
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The Rose Family Seder Books
Through May 4, 2025Stephen A. Schwarzman BuildingView selections from the Rose Family Seder Books, unique collections of Passover-themed artwork spanning over 60 years.
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Rhythm Is My Business: Women Who Shaped Jazz
Through June 13, 2025The New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThroughout the history of jazz, women have made significant if overlooked contributions to the genre. While some renowned figures like…
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Dynamic Duos: The Art of Working in Pairs
Through August 2, 2025Stephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThis exhibition demonstrates how artists have long explored the possibilities of what it means to work together.
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Robert Motherwell: At Home and in the Studio
Through August 2, 2025Stephen A. Schwarzman BuildingNYPL celebrates the recent gift of prints by Robert Motherwell and books from the artist’s personal library.
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Room to Move: Dance Theater Workshop and Alternative Histories of Downtown Dance
Through September 13, 2025The New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsIn the 1960s, much like today, artists in New York struggled with limited access to resources and space—key elements to make new work.…
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A Century of The New Yorker
Through February 21, 2026Stephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThis yearlong exhibition will bring to life the people, stories, and ideas that made The New Yorker.
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Letters from Home: The Black ABCs Reimagined
OngoingSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStep into Letters from Home: The Black ABCs Reimagined, an extraordinary exhibition by the Schomburg Junior Scholars Program.
Coming Soon
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100: A Century of Collections, Community, and Creativity
May 8, 2025–June 30, 2026Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture100: A Century of Collections, Community, and Creativity will explore the Schomburg Center’s history through the prism of place,…
Community Showcases
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Mai La Thai: The Light Thereafter
Ongoing53rd Street LibraryMai La Thai is an award-winning interdisciplinary artist and photographer. Her accolades include FIrst Place in the 2019 PDN…
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An Oral History of New Migrants in Lower Manhattan
OngoingNew Amsterdam LibraryThis project interviewed recent immigrants to the community, exploring their perceptions of New York prior to arrival, the media images…
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Unrestricted Interest
OngoingBattery Park City LibraryThe Battery Park City Library is happy to announce Unrestricted Interest, a permanent display located on the second floor of…
Online Exhibitions
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The Skeleton Caricatures of Posada | Las meras meras calaveras de Posada
OngoingOnline OnlyStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThis online exhibition presents a selection of Posada’s calaveras and announces the digitization of the entirety of the Library’s Posada… -
Pride & Privacy: LGBTQ+ Visibility in Library Collections
OngoingOnline OnlyStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe lives of people who identify as LGBTQ+, more than those of others, have often historically been shaped by questions of visibility…
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Banned: Censorship and the Freedom to Read
OngoingOnline OnlyStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThis online exhibition, accompanied by a curriculum guide and temporary displays of material, explores censorship in the United States,…
Past Exhibitions
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The Flushing Remonstrance: "Let Everyone Remain Free"
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
This 1657 document tells the story of a community’s stand against intolerance and its struggle for freedom of conscience and…
The Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S.
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
The Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S. tells the story of what made the Joffrey a unique force in the world of dance, demonstrating…
