New York Art Trip

GCSE and A Level Art and Art History students ventured to the big apple over half term.

Year 11 students, Isabel and Lottie, report back on their highlights of the trip:

‘Our art trip to New York was unforgettable experience – a week filled with inspiration, learning, creativity and freedom. One of the most memorable moments was seeing Man Ray’s retrospective at MoMA. We had studied his photographs last year in class, which made seeing them in real life even more fascinating; his experimental approach definitely sparked new ideas for our own work. Visiting Donald Judd’s home, studio and gallery in Spring Street, SoHo, was another highlight; the space was extraordinary – calm and minimal, with huge windows. Every object was perfectly placed to exist in harmony with the room around it, which made us reflect on the relationship between art and our environment, and how space itself can be part of the artwork.

My favourite day was when we went to Brooklyn, with a street art tour in Bushwick showing us a completely different perspective on street art. The walls were covered with murals and graffiti that added spontaneity and life to the area. We loved hearing about the artists’ processes and how these works exist socially and historically within a community, constantly changing as new layers are added on top of old paintings. It reminded us that art doesn’t have to be precious and conserved; it can be raw, public, and full of energy.

Of course, we also managed to explore the New York thrift shops, in particular L Train Vintage in Brooklyn – highly recommended! We also had a taste of American food like Raisin Canes and Crumbl Cookies. Overall, what made this trip so special was how it deepened our understanding of the art around us and how we see different processes and spaces. We came home inspired, full of ideas, and with so many fun stories to tell… New York, New Me!’