23rd Street (C, E)

Let’s go gallery hopping in Chelsea! It’s free, but bring your wallet in case a piece of art worth a bajillion dollars captures your interest.

To pull up a list of galleries when you’re in Chelsea, just search for “galleries” on Google Maps once you’re out there. 

Timing

It’s best to go Thursday through Saturday, in the window of noon to 6pm. Most galleries are closed Monday and Tuesday, and a few are also closed Sunday and Wednesday.

Directions

Get out of the station and start walking west on 22nd or 23rd for about 10 minutes. Once you hit 10th Avenue, you’ve reached the gallery zone. Now, snake between 10th and 11th Avenues on any of the streets between 21st and 25th. You’ll cross under The Highline multiple times.

How to Hop

I recommend wandering: pick a street and walk into any gallery that captures your interest. The Dia might be the biggest-name gallery, but the ones you haven’t heard of will still blow you away.

Gem of a Shop

I love that the Comme des Garçons store is located smack in Chelsea’s Gallery Village, because it really feels more like a fashion gallery than a clothes shop. Anyway, whether you treat it like a gallery or a shop, it’s worth a visit.

Comme des Garçons entrance on 22nd St. between 10th and 11th. 

Tip for the New Yorkers

Put your name and email in the little black moleskines at the reception desk of galleries you like. The mailing lists for these galleries often include invites for launch events and artist talks. It’s a fun way to spend a night with the art crowd, and there’s usually free wine when you go.

Woven works by Kandy G Lopez and Aminah Robinson at the ACA Gallery. 

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