A magnet for visionaries, New York has long been the inspirational hot-spot for creators and appreciators of art. History runs deep in the city that housed Andy Warhol’s ‘The Factory’ and welcomed the eccentricities of Salvador Dali, and this rich artistic breeding ground has undoubtedly produced some of the best privately-run contemporary galleries in the world. Whether you seek a guide through Chelsea’s remarkable (and often overwhelming) art district, or crave a taste of the raw and emerging in Brooklyn’s Bushwick, onefinestay has your interests covered.

The Pace Gallery

For a solid introduction to Chelsea’s contemporary gallery scene, The Pace Gallery, with its roster of heavyweight artists (both living and deceased), will not disappoint. Get a taste of worldwide talents such as Japan’s Yoshitomo Nara and David Hockney, as well as American favorites Chuck Close and James Turrell. In addition to being spread over two locations on West 25th Street, The Pace Gallery also has a space uptown on East 57th.

(Chuck Close ‘Self Portrait’ (2004-2005) – Image Courtesy of The Pace Gallery)

534 West 25th Street, NY, NY & 510 West 25th Street, NY, NY & 32 East 57th Street, NY, NY. www.thepacegallery.com

Andrea Rosen Gallery

On any given exhibition, Andrea Rosen will provide some kind of multi-material wonderland from one of the artists her gallery represents. Brace yourself for an explosion of color or an exploration of light and form, depending on what’s on show, in her West 24th Street space.

(José Lerma at Andrea Rosen Gallery (2010) – Image Courtesy of Andrea Rosen Gallery)

525 West 24th Street, NY, NY. www.andrearosengallery.com

Team Gallery

A downtown favorite, Team Gallery’s roster of young talent such as Ryan McGinley and Cory Arcangel provides a perfect slice of New York’s contemporary scene pie. Openings are not one to miss with a recent performance from Deerhunter’s lead singer Bradford Cox performing as Atlas Sound, at McGinley’s ‘Animals’ debut.

(Team Gallery – Image Courtesy of Team Gallery)

83 Grand Street NY, NY & 47 Wooster Street, NY, NY. www.teamgal.com

Signal Gallery

Signal Gallery is one of the most exciting spaces to have recently entered the New York art scene. In Brooklyn’s industrial Bushwick neighborhood, this huge converted warehouse caters to large installations and group shows and effectively captures the progressive thinking and dynamic attitude of the gallery’s Director and his team. A must-see for those who want to experience New York’s next generation of art.

Marisa Prefer’s Breathing Room. Image: Signal Gallery

260 Johnson Ave, Brooklyn, NY. Gallery Facebook page.