THE REBELLIOUS SPIRIT: NEW YORK’S
New York in the second half of the 20th century was a vibrant location for artists, producing some of the biggest names in modern art. Many of the works on show in the public areas of Conrad New York Downtown showcase the spirit of this time. Characterized by its rebellious, creative energy and challenging of traditional forms, the art scene of postwar New York was dynamic and groundbreaking. It witnessed the emergence of new artistic practices and movements, including Abstract Expressionism, and the blending of disciplines and cultures. With more than 2,000 works, including pieces by some of the most significant artists of the 20th century, Conrad New York Downtown’s art collection is truly world-class. Much of the hotel’s collection – and, indeed, its architecture – reflects the vibrancy and diversity of the Soho and Tribeca areas of Manhattan, and nods to the prolific art scene this part of the city incubated in the decades following the Second World War. It features pieces by influential figures such as Sol LeWitt and Jeff Koons that encouraged new ways of thinking about and creating contemporary art.
1. Sol LeWitt, Loopy Doopy (Blue & Purple) , 1999
A central figure in the downtown art scene, Sol LeWitt rose to prominence in the late 1960s and continued to work until his passing in 2007. An artist at the forefront of the Conceptual and Minimalist art movements, LeWitt was a key figure in creating the radical new aesthetic of the 1960s. A must-see at Conrad New York Downtown is the 13-story-high, sitespecific mural Loopy Doopy (Blue & Purple) . LeWitt was in his seventies when he was commissioned to produce this monumental work, one of his largest ever, which was created with the help of artists in his studio in Brooklyn Navy Yard. LeWitt’s minimal, usually colorful creations, which included sculptures and drawings, were powerful early Conceptual artworks. He is credited with shaping art history and changing the way art is experienced. To be so minimalist on such a maximalist scale was bold. As the artist once put it: “I wasn’t really that interested in objects. I was interested in ideas.”
2. Imi Knoebel, Mennige (Polygon) , 1996
One of the leading German artists of the postwar period, Imi Knoebel is known for his Minimalist and Abstract practice, and studied under the renowned artist Joseph Beuys. His work explores the relationship between color, form, and space, using simple geometric shapes and vibrant hues to create dynamic compositions.
Painted directly onto the wall next to the hotel’s east entrance stairway, Mennige consists of rectangular panels in a rich red pigment, referencing the industrial red lead primer traditionally used to paint metal. Knoebel’s approach emphasizes the purity of color and shape, asking viewers to focus on the visual experience and contemplate the interplay of these fundamental elements.
3. Pat Steir, Topsy Turvy , 2012
The American painter Pat Steir trained at the Pratt Institute in New York and was an influential Conceptual and Minimalist artist, alongside Sol LeWitt. She gained widespread acclaim for her representational and abstract works, with solo exhibitions at institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum.
Topsy Turvy , which guests will find at the top of the grand staircase just outside the gallery ballroom, exemplifies her unique approach, with cascading drips, splatters, and flowing brushwork creating a sense of dynamic movement. Steir explores the experiential qualities of painting through the use of vibrant colors and expressive marks – inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the tumultuous artwork. Through her intuitive and spontaneous application of paint, Topsy Turvy captures a sense of controlled chaos and celebrates the process of artistic creation.
4. Jeff Koons, Fun , 1998
Known for playful provocation, Jeff Koons transforms banal objects into art icons, often using highly polished commercial materials and dramatic shifts of scale – as seen in his famous Balloon Dog sculptures. Appropriating children’s motifs, Fun contains three eye-catching animal lithographs from the late 1990s, when his Easyfun series showcased colored mirrors in the shape of stylized animal faces. With his earnest and optimistic approach, Koons combines art-historical references, Surrealism, and Pop Art elements to create works that challenge traditional notions of art.
5. Julian Schnabel, Billy’s First Portrait of God , 1990
Regarded as one of America’s most significant living artists, Brooklyn-born Julian Schnabel is primarily a painter, though his work extends to sculpture, architecture, and even a glittering career as a film director (including a Golden Globe win and an Oscar nomination). Schnabel was part of 1980s New York’s Neo-Expressionist movement, which saw a return to bold, gestural painting. This 1990 piece in the collection of Conrad New York Downtown, Billy’s First Portrait of God , is a mixed-media work incorporating woodcut, film and paper.
6. Robert Mangold, Four Figures (A-D) , 1998
Robert Mangold is known for his abstract, geometric paintings and a willingness to experiment with form. The work of this significant New York artist has been exhibited in the city since the 1960s, as well as internationally. His long-time gallerists at Pace Gallery say that Mangold has “remained intrigued by color as much as structure, and his relationship with it shifted throughout the decades.” A set of four etchings, Four Figures (A-D) is prominently positioned at the guest relations desk of Conrad New York Downtown.
7. Julian Opie, Tourist 4 , 2000
The contemporary British artist Julian Opie is known for his minimal, distinctive portraits and urban landscapes. His work often features simplified figures, outlined in bold black lines and filled with flat colors, bringing to mind digital and graphic art. Tourist 4 , which you will find by the hotel’s main entrance, is a work of paint and vinyl on wood that speaks to Opie’s recurring themes of identity and perception, all executed in his deceptively simple style.
8. Sol LeWitt, Whirls and Twirls
To explore more of LeWitt’s work, simply hop on the subway to 59th Street-Columbus Circle station, where you will find Whirls and Twirls – a vast tiled wall of jewel-toned loops and curves.
9. Isamu Noguchi, Red Cube
Discover more large-scale Minimalist artwork at 140 Broadway, a 15-minute walk away from Conrad New York Downtown. Red Cube is a monumental sculpture by the American landscape architect and artist Isamu Noguchi, installed in 1968.
10. Judd Foundation
The work of another titan of American Minimalism, Donald Judd, can be seen in the artist’s former residence in Soho. Less than a 30-minute walk from Conrad New York Downtown, the Judd Foundation is thought to be the place where the artist developed the concept of permanent installation. 101 Spring Street; juddfoundation.org
11. 52 Walker
Operated by the renowned David Zwirner gallery, 52 Walker is known for its innovative exhibitions and emphasis on emerging artists. It presents a diverse range of thought-provoking, cutting-edge works that contribute to the evolving New York contemporary art scene.
52 Walker Street; 52walker.com
12. David Lewis Gallery
Founded by the art historian David Lewis, this gallery showcases contemporary and historical art exhibitions, and frequently champions international artists, sometimes presenting their debut New York shows.
57 Walker Street; davidlewisgallery.com
13. Denny Gallery
A prominent contemporary art gallery with locations in New York and Hong Kong, Denny Gallery shows paintings and sculpture alongside photography and new media.
39 Lispenard Street; dennygallery.com
Beyond the hotel
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SOHO
UNION SQUARE
GRAMERCY
