Westchester is great because of its proximity to so many fun activities, and art is no exception. There are several art museums both in Westchester and nearby that are just a short drive away, making for easy and fun day trip locations. Depending on what kind of art you’re interested in seeing, you could be just an hour or two from discovering your new favorite museum!
If you’re looking for an art museum in Westchester, you don’t have to go much further than Purchase, which is home to two wonderful art attractions.
The first is the Neuberger Museum, located at Purchase College. The Neuberger Museum is notable for its vast collection of African art, which has been growing since the museum’s founding in 1974. The collection includes masks, figures, and sculptures.
The Neuberger Museum also has collections of paintings from artists such as Georgia O’Keefe, Milton Avery, Jackson Pollack, and even Mark Rothko. It features prints from Chuck Close, Andy Warhol, and Sol LeWitt. There are sculptures outside the museum, but if it’s outdoor sculptures you’re after, the next stop in Purchase has many to offer.
The Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens are located at the worldwide headquarters of PepsiCo. Having been closed to the public for years, the Gardens reopened earlier this year, now with a smartphone app that allows for those touring the sculpture gardens to listen to audio tours. Pick a day with nice weather, and tour the Sculpture Gardens alone or with someone!
Both of these attractions make for fun, easy day trips, and since they’re so close to each other, why not visit both in a day?
A little ways upstate, in Beacon, Dia:Beacon is worth the trip if you want to see modern art. It features works from Sol LeWitt, Andy Warhol, Richard Serra, and Louise Bourgeois, among others. There are sculptures outside, so be sure to walk around the whole museum, inside and out. Dia:Beacon offers free guided tours on the weekends, at 12:30 and 2 PM. When you’re finished with the museum, check out Beacon, NY, a small, lovely town with coffee, lunch, and thrifting opportunities.
Also in upstate New York is Storm King Art Center, a sprawling, beautiful sculpture park which has both permanent installations and temporary exhibitions. Featuring a curated collection of sculptures that has been growing since the 1966 purchase of thirteen David Smith sculptures, Storm King is breathtaking. The sculpture park was recently used as the location for an episode of the popular Netflix series Master of None, and has become greatly respected in the art community over the last five decades.
If you are less interested in modern art and would prefer to see some incredible works from centuries past, consider the Yale Center for British Art. This museum, home to the largest collection of British art outside of the United Kingdom, features works by artists such as John Constable, John Everett Millais, and William Turner. It encompasses many eras; medieval, pre-Raphaelite, and even some modern art can be found here. Although this museum is a little farther away than the other two, it is certainly worth the visit!
Any one of these museums makes for a great day trip. If you’re wondering what to do this weekend, look no further. Pack a lunch or plan to get lunch locally, and set out to discover art not too far from home!