Jafa, the artist behind Love Is the Message, The Message Is Death, lands in a New Museum that has just doubled its gallery footprint, so scale is finally on his side. The show runs through the holidays in a building whose facade, plaza and atrium stair now carry commissions by Tschabalala Self, Sarah Lucas and Klara Hosnedlova. If you want the argument rather than the canon, go.
What to expect
You arrive under Tschabalala Self's facade commission and pass Sarah Lucas's plaza sculpture before you buy a ticket, so the visit starts outside. Inside, Klara Hosnedlova's atrium stair installation runs up through the new building. Jafa's exhibition occupies the expanded gallery floors, which are considerably larger and higher than the old Bowery spaces.
Good to know
- Take the 6 to Spring Street, the J/Z to Bowery, or the B/D/F/M to Broadway-Lafayette.
- The facade and plaza commissions are outside the ticket line, so you can see them for nothing.
- The expanded building has more gallery floors than the old one — allow more time than you expect.
- The Bowery gets busy in the evening; a weekday afternoon is the quiet slot.
- Elevators reach all gallery levels and the museum is wheelchair accessible.
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Common questions
What else is on view at the New Museum?
Long-term commissions by Tschabalala Self on the facade, Sarah Lucas on the plaza and Klara Hosnedlova on the atrium stair, plus Diego Marcon and The Bowery: Devil's Mile.
Is the new building open?
Yes — the 60,000-square-foot expansion opened in March 2026 with roughly twice the exhibition space.
Can I see anything without a ticket?
The facade and plaza commissions are visible from the street at no cost.
More this weekend
