Society of Illustrators New York

Art museum, bar

Geoffrey from New York

About me I travel to discover how people elsewhere live, how they manage living with low incomes in expensive cities, how they grapple with hard times and failing economies, how they deal with ageing or crumbling families and how they themselves age and adapt. Knowing and loving New York comes from having lived through many of its manifestations while witnessing its changes....
""Society of Illustrators" in New York is a favourite museum of mine because its size charms without overwhelming (no crowds) & it has a delightful bar..."

This museum is a favourite for two reasons: its size charms without overwhelming (no crowds) and if one does feel overwhelmed, the delightful third floor bar with dappled terrace is open to gallery visitors and non-visitors alike and is less expensive than uptown museum offerings. It's also convenient for an afternoon's break during an east side stroll.

Exhibits/shows, often with a conscience, can be pithy, frothy or both. For example:

1. "The Art of March [a graphic novel]: A masterpiece (think Art Spiegelman's Maus), depicts USA Congressman John Lewis's (d. 2020) experience in the civil rights movement as depicted by March trilogy illustrator Nate Powell. This landmark exhibition of Congressman Lewis's celebrated graphic novel memoir (co-written with Andrew Aydin), takes visitors on a visceral tour of the movement, illuminating pivotal moments, people, and philosophies through the display of over 150 pieces of original art, interactive materials, and new exhibition essays…".

2. "Shawn Martinbrough, the author of How to Draw Noir Comics: The Art and Technique of Visual Storytelling. He is an acclaimed creator/artist whose DC, Marvel and Dark Horse Comics projects include "Batman: Detective Comics", "Luke Cage Noir", "Captain America", "The Black Panther" and "Hellboy: Secret Nature"."

3. American Patriots: The Tuskegee Airmen and the Harlem Hellfighters (upcoming), the illustrators' role in depicting the World War Two segregated Afro-American air arms.

Above the bar hangs The Dover Coach, a large Norman Rockwell oil, and the staircase walls are populated with charcoal/graphite portraits of members in a characteristic style, arrestingly staged.

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New York Spotter Geoffrey

About me I travel to discover how people elsewhere live, how they manage living with low incomes in expensive cities, how they grapple with hard times and failing economies, how they deal with ageing or crumbling families and how they themselves age and adapt. Knowing and loving New York comes from having lived through many of its manifestations while witnessing its changes. Why New York I love New York because of its broad cultural spectrum realized in all forms of the arts, food, technology, politics and transportation, and its easy access to the beautif...

About this spot

East 63rd Street 128

Adult admission:

US$

15

2128382560

Oct 16, 2025

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