Robert Rauschenberg: NYC Pictures from the Real World

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Honor Robert Rauschenberg’s centenary by exploring a new showcase of his photography at the Museum of the City of New York.

Robert Rauschenberg, “New York City” (1981), gelatin silver print (© Robert Rauschenberg Foundation)

Commemorating the centennial of Robert Rauschenberg (1925–2008), the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) showcases Robert Rauschenberg’s New York: Pictures from the Real World. This vibrant exhibition investigates Rauschenberg’s inventive merging of photography and found objects, showcasing his profound interest in “the real world” and his intricate connection with New York City. The exhibition is divided into three segments: — “Early Photographs,” “In + Out City Limits,” and “Photography in Painting,” each tracing the development of Rauschenberg’s photographic artistry and its relationship with painting, sculpture, and assemblage.

Left: Robert Rauschenberg “New York City” (1983) gelatin silver print (© Robert Rauschenberg Foundation); Right: Robert Rauschenberg “New York City” (1983) gelatin silver print (© Robert Rauschenberg Foundation)

The crown jewel of the exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York is In + Out City Limits, a photographic journey across the United States conducted over three years (1979–81). This project, initially envisioned decades earlier while Rauschenberg was a student at Black Mountain College in North Carolina, embodies his curiosity about the signs and symbols within human culture, even those that are often overlooked. His New York images from this endeavor underscore his commitment to observe and encapsulate transient, elusive moments of life, revealing a profound sensitivity to the evolving social landscape.

Moreover, the exhibition features select works created between 1963 and 1994 that intertwine Rauschenberg’s New York City photography with images from various locales worldwide. This highlights his ability to reframe his visual narrative through an innovative creative process.

For further details, check out mcny.org.

Robert Rauschenberg, “New York City” (1980), gelatin silver print (© Robert Rauschenberg Foundation)

The exhibition Robert Rauschenberg’s New York: Pictures from the Real World has received lead funding from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, with additional contributions from Matt & Marisa Brown, Ronay & Richard Menschel, Jill & Peter Kraus, Elizabeth Belfer, and Gillian & Robert Steel. Public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the City Council, also support this event. The Museum of the City of New York’s initiatives are made viable by the New York State Council on the Arts with backing from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.