We all have a secret, but are you ready to spill yours? Well, now you can at contemporary painter Sonya Sklaroff’s new exhibition Secrets of New York, which portrays the little-known treasures of NYC.
The exhibition invites New Yorkers to turn away from the city’s iconic landmarks and instead take a look at some of the city’s lesser known gems.
A series of oil-on-canvas paintings depict locations around the city that aren’t immediately recognizable, giving an almost behind-the-scenes look at NYC’s many clandestine happenings.
Think: a small garden oasis tucked away in the heart of SoHo, a tennis court on a garage rooftop on the East Side, and a dead-end street overlooking the East River 4th of July fireworks.
And, if you’re willing to spill a secret of your own, Sklaroff may just bring it to life!
A box at the exhibition allows guests to drop their own secrets in to then be pulled out and painted by Sklaroff. The painting will be on display for the second half of the exhibition.
“Through my Secrets of New York series, I wanted to show the unfamiliar spots in New York that people tend to overlook. There are not only places that are hidden in plain sight, but also at every moment secrets are happening around us” said Sklaroff.
Through the exhibition, Sklaroff takes viewers on a tour through the city’s ephemeral scenes, presenting a vibrant yet esoteric look at New York–a look that many of us miss out on as we go about our hectic lives.
“Making art is my purpose. More than just what I do, art is a big part of who I am. Painting is how I express my true self, the authentic me,” reads Sklaroff’s website.
Secrets of New York is running now through Tuesday, May 30 at the Algonquin Times Square, Autograph Collection (59 West 44th St.) You can check it out Tuesday through Saturday, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. or by appointment.
You can learn more about the artist and her work on her website.