Under the Radar Museums
NEUE GALERIE 1048 Fifth Ave.
212-628-6200
This small museum of early 20th century German and Austrian art is a relatively new addition to the city’s vaunted Museum Mile. Housed in the small but elegant William Starr Miller House, it features the famous Klimt painting “Woman in Gold.” The work of Franz Marc, August Macke and Wiener Werkstatte is currently on display, and the exhibition “The Self-Portrait, from Schiele to Beckmann” opens in early 2019. There’s also a nice restaurant, Café Sabarsky. General admission is $22, but there are occasional free days between exhibits.
NICHOLAS ROERICH MUSEUM 319 West 107TH St.
212-864-7752
Russia may not be on most Americans’ favorite countries list these days, but that’s no reason not to pay a visit to this hidden gem of a museum dedicated to the work of a Russian-born artist whose paintings focused on nature scenes from the Himalayas. Roerich was known as a visionary who promoted peace, the protection of the world’s cultural heritage and the unity of religions — and his works reflect those ideals. Admission is free, and they offer poetry readings and piano recitals most Sunday evenings.
CENTER FOR ITALIAN MODERN ART 421 Broome St.
646-370-3596
This popular downtown gallery and research center is open from October through June and features by-appointment guided tours led by renowned Italian art scholars. This year, CIMA is presenting its first group show, “Metaphysical Masterpieces 1916-1920: Morandi, Sironi and Carra,” which focuses on the period ending the first phase of the avant-garde movements of Cubism. It’s great way to spend an afternoon, and learn about the history of modern Italian art.