Lincoln Square is known as the epicenter of culture in New York City, and a new slate of exhibits in the neighborhood do not disappoint! From art exhibitions on theater, textiles, jewelry, and more, there is much to see, learn, and experience.
As one of the New York Public Library system’s four research libraries, the Library for the Performing Arts (40 Lincoln Center Plaza between West 64th and 65th Street) is a destination for students, scholars, and art lovers alike. The library’s latest free exhibit, Syncopated Stages: Black Disruptions to the Great White Way, reviews how Broadway theater was shaped by generations of Black artists. Syncopated Stages—curated by playwright, professor, and scholar Michael Dinwiddie—explains how Black artists overcame exclusion and stereotypes to innovate and lay the groundwork for future generations. Through February 21, visit the Library for the Performing Arts to learn about these historically overlooked artists and see how they are still having an impact on Broadway today.
After closing this spring to begin renovations, the first phase of the American Folk Art Museum (2 Lincoln Square at Columbus Avenue and West 65th Street) returns to operation on September 26th with An Ecology of Quilts: The Natural History of American Textiles. This free exhibit sheds light on approximately 30 examples, spanning the 18th to 20th centuries, from the museum’s rich collection of more than 600 quilts. Visitors can explore the natural history of American textiles from an ecological perspective, tracing patterns of relationships between the environment and traditional quilting practices. Through March 1, 2026, the exhibit gives a chance to learn about the origins of textile production and how it informs the artistry of quilt-making.
The American Folk Art Museum is also using the occasion of the new exhibit to do something special for teachers. On September 30, the museum is hosting an Educators’ Open House featuring private tours of An Ecology of Quilts for educators, who will also have the opportunity to meet new colleagues and learn about ways to incorporate the exhibit’s content into their curricula. Light refreshments and free educational resources will be provided to participants, along with a 10% discount in the American Folk Art Museum Shop. Check with AFAM at education@folkartmuseum.org for more details.
Later this fall, the Museum of Arts and Design (2 Columbus Circle at Broadway) is bringing not one but two new exhibits to Lincoln Square. October 4 marks the opening of Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture, an exhibit that tells the inspiring story of Fletcher’s evolution from self-taught metalsmith to influential designer, perhaps best known for shaping the aesthetics of the Black Panther film franchise. The display showcases 75 sculptural designs crafted from brass, gold, and semi-precious stones that articulate Black identity and embody spiritual meaning.
Also on October 4, Designing Motherhood: Things that Make and Break our Births debuts at MAD. This exhibit traces the evolution of designs about human reproduction over the last 150 years. Across more than 250 manufactured products, speculative design projects, medical devices and tools, graphic materials, contemporary artworks, and video, this multifaceted exhibition deepens the cultural awareness and dialogue surrounding design for reproductive health and well-being.
Be sure to check out these thought-provoking exhibits bringing fresh perspectives to Lincoln Square!
Photo Credit: Museum of Arts and Design (Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture)
