This autumn’s standout shows in New York, from Modern architecture in Africa to Fluxus co-founder Alison Knowles

In the autumn of 2024, New York showcased a diverse array of exhibitions that captivated visitors with their innovative themes and outstanding artworks. In West Africa, post-liberation architecture took center stage in a major museum exhibition featuring 400 objects from 17 nations, highlighting the region's unique fusion of local traditions and modern aesthetics. E.G. Arthur Jafa's first U.S. museum survey, named after jazz drummer Tony Williams, explored Black culture and systemic racism through jazz-inspired works.

Meanwhile, hidden talents like Mexican artist Teresa Margolles, trained as a forensic pathologist, were brought to light through her visceral installations confronting violence and femicide. The Metropolitan Museum of Art unveiled its first-ever exhibition on Orientalism, tracing over a century of Western Europeans' interactions with Islamic cultures, showcasing an impressive collection of 180 objects spanning architecture, art, and textiles.

Alison Knowles, one of the only female co-founders of the Fluxus movement, received a retrospective that showcased her groundbreaking contributions to contemporary art. Her early experiments in silk-screening, pivotal Fluxus projects, and later works reflecting her eclectic materials and forms were on display. The Museum also introduced a Creativity Lab, allowing visitors to engage in live art and participate in the creative process.