Taryn Simon has taken over the whole Frank Lloyd Wright rotunda with 42 never-before-seen works that trace the life of a single unnamed federal agent, winding up the ramps as one interactive installation. The museum calls it the largest debut of new work it has ever staged, and the first rotunda solo show by a photography-based artist. If you want to see the fall's most ambitious museum debut, start at the bottom of the ramp and give it a full hour.
What to expect
You start at the base of the spiral and climb through photographs, text panels, videos and sculpture arranged as a chain of linked stories about duty, loss and justice. Simon's own narration threads through the installation, and the show is personal for the first time in her career — her father, who worked for the U.S. government abroad, shadows the whole project.
Good to know
- Buying tickets online ahead of time saves waiting at the front desk on a busy weekend
- The show runs up the rotunda ramps, so allow extra time and comfortable shoes
- Nearest subway is the 4/5/6 at 86th Street, then a walk west to Fifth Avenue
- Guggenheim Pop is also on view in the building, so one ticket covers two very different shows
- Text and narration are central to the work, so plan to read and listen, not just look
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Common questions
Is the Taryn Simon show the whole museum?
It fills the entire rotunda. Other galleries hold separate exhibitions, including Guggenheim Pop: 1960 to Now.
How long does the exhibition take to see?
With 42 artworks plus video and narration, most visitors should budget at least an hour for the rotunda alone.
Is it suitable for kids?
The narration deals with victims, predators and justice, so it suits teens and adults better than young children.
