Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit Opens for 95th Year

New York, NY · May 23, 2026

University Place is looking a bit more colorful this morning as the white tents go up. Grab a coffee and an umbrella before heading toward the square to see what the local makers have brought this year.

📰 The Lead

The Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit returns for its 95th year this morning, lining the sidewalks of University Place from East 13th Street down to Waverly Place. What began in 1931 as a desperate attempt by Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning to pay their rent during the Depression has evolved into a massive biannual showcase for independent artists.

Unlike the high-pressure galleries in Chelsea, this show allows for direct conversation with the creators of jewelry, photography, and oil paintings. The rain might force some artists to drape their booths in plastic today, but the show traditionally goes on regardless of the clouds. It’s a quintessential Greenwich Village weekend activity that remains free to the public, offering a glimpse into the neighborhood's enduring identity as a haven for the working artist.

🏙️ Local Pulse

  • Holiday Travel Congestion — Expect heavy congestion at the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels through the afternoon as holiday travel peaks for the long weekend.

  • Governors Island Ferry — The summer ferry schedule is now in full effect, with additional departures from Pier 11 and Red Hook starting this morning.

  • Public Library Closures — All neighborhood library branches are closed today through Monday in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

🌧️ Today's Outlook

  • High 56°F · Low 50°F — Rain (74% chance of precipitation)
    • It’s a boots and raincoat kind of Saturday, so maybe swap the picnic for a museum.

📅 What's On Around Town

  • Fleet Week: Military Static Displays — Times Square, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM See Humvees and dive tanks up close and chat with active-duty Marines.

  • Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit — University Place, 12:00 PM–6:00 PM Stroll the sidewalks to browse works from hundreds of independent local artists.

  • Governors Island: Kite Festival — Play Lawn, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM A colorful display of professional kite flying near the hills, weather permitting.

  • Live Jazz: The Village Vanguard — Seventh Avenue South, 8:00 PM Classic basement sets to escape the rain; booking ahead is highly recommended.

  • Brooklyn: Greenpoint Terminal Market — 2 Noble Street, 11:00 AM–6:00 PM A short walk to the waterfront for vintage finds and local street food.

📸 Spotlight & Story

  • The TWA Hotel at JFK
    • Step back into 1962 at Eero Saarinen’s restored flight center. Beyond the "Connie" airplane-turned-cocktail-lounge, the Sunken Lounge features a split-flap departures board that still clicks and clacks. It’s a rare piece of preserved mid-century optimism tucked inside a modern airport.

New York Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

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