With the endless blockbusters exhibitions in New York City this spring — from Raphael at The Met to the Whitney Biennial to the reopening of the New Museum — it can be easy to overlook shows at galleries, independent art spaces, and smaller venues.
That would be a mistake. New York’s only as rich as it is because of that constant flux of new, experimental, and occasionally batshit art that’s years or decades away from entering more established spaces, if it ever does at all. Some of these shows only run for a couple of weeks. Tough on an editor; lucky for you.
Below, we’ve rounded up our favorite exhibitions this month, from an all-immigrant exhibition in Queens to DAZE’s city-inspired aesthetics to Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa’s reimagining of a play censored during Guatemala’s civil war. As Seph Rodney puts it, you’ll feel the full spectrum of humanity here. — Lisa Yin Zhang, associate editor
Chris “Daze” Ellis: Orchid Rain on the Underground
P·P·O·W, 390 Broadway, 2nd Floor, Tribeca, Manhattan
Through April 25
DAZE (aka Chris Ellis) continues to dazzle with his urban-infused canvases, installations, and a site-specific mural that celebrate aerosol culture from yesteryear with a floral flourish that updates them with a very contemporary feel. The installation “Soundtrack to the City” (2026) is particularly great, as it embodies the cultural fusion that drives his art, while expanding his artistic world with more decorative associations and dreamlike juxtapositions. The show emphasizes old-school nostalgia — some works populated by beloved figures, others given over to unpopulated cityscapes and subwayscapes — suggesting how memory continues to serve as fertile ground for new ideas to grow. The gallery is hosting a conversation between DAZE and art writer and curator Carlo McCormick (who is depicted in two of the artist’s canvases on display) that will take place on Thursday, April 9 at 6:30pm. The event does not require RSVP, and seating will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. —Hrag Vartanian