Diversity in the Writing on the Wall: Elie Hirschfeld at the NYHS

Elie Hirschfeld’s donated “Scenes of New York City” exhibition, currently on view at the New-York Historical Society, mixes world-renowned artists with a diverse array of voices. Dozens of New Yorkers from all walks of life were consulted for their thoughts and impressions of the art work, yielding a refreshingly relevant and unique show.

The New-York Historical Society is one of a growing number of institutions around the country engaged in conversations about the diversification of exhibitions, reaching broader audiences, and removing cultural biases from their programming. Museum curators across the country’s major institutions are turning to a more experimental approach in order to give outside voices a voice. The new approaches being birthed in this way are also helping visitors connect with the art more personally than ever before. At the Elie Hirschfeld “Scenes of New York City” exhibition, a unique insight from the public appears on the label directly below the museum professional insight.

The Elie Hirschfeld exhibition curator, Wendy Nālani E. Ikemoto — curator of American art at the New-York Historical Society — invited dozens of New Yorkers to offer their thoughts or comments on the art in the collection, which includes such names as Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper, Andy Warhol, Marc Chagall, Jacob Lawrence, Mark Rothko, and many more.

Pictured: “14th Street, New York,” by Thomas Hart Benton (1889–1975)

Original story published in the New York Times.