The 1960s were a strange time, and in a very specific way. For the first time, people could sit in their living rooms and see pop culture, war footage, political violence, and advertising back to back, all on the same screen. Those constant extremes made everyday life feel unstable, even outside of reality. Sixties Surreal at The Whitney looks at how American artists responded to that specific time. Many artists used unexpected materials and unsettling imagery to show what was already happening around them. The exhibition focuses on the work made between 1958 and 1972, and captures a moment when artists were trying to connect art to real life, even when reality felt out of focus.
‘Sixties Surreal’ Exhibit Details
The Sixties Surreal exhibit is on view at The Whitney Museum of American Art located in the Meatpacking District in Manhattan from now until January 19th, 2026.
Highlighted artists include Diane Arbus, Lee Bontecou, Romare Bearden, Louise Bourgeois, Yayoi Kusama, David Hammons, Nancy Grossman, Mel Casas, Linda Lomahaftewa, Franklin Williams, and others. Their pieces include sculpture, painting, collage, and mixed media, and the work reflects themes tied to civil rights, war, gender politics, mass media, and the unsettling pace of modern life during that era.
Sixties Surreal is worth making time for, especially if you’re curious about how artists get inspiration when the world starts to feel unsteady. It’s the kind of show that stays with you after you leave.
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