Seeing Just One Art Exhibit at a Time
one and done, bite-size museum visits are doing me some good
When I visit a museum, I like to go to just one exhibit and then leave. Even if I’m tempted to linger and explore more, I resist the urge.
When I enter the museum knowing I'll only visit one exhibition, my pace slows. My attention deepens. Instead of rushing around with the feeling that I must "see it all,"
This singular focus creates a different experience especially in a world where we try to maximize every experience and consume as much content as possible.
I should say upfront that it’s easier for me to dash into a museum without a hit to my wallet since the museums in DC are free, but honestly, I’d do it in other cities and pay the fee.
Museums can be overwhelming and take up your whole day when you’re visiting a city. It’s still nice to cap the time and go explore the city, even if you shelled out $30 or so for the museum visit.
At the start of the year, I researched exhibits at the National Gallery of Art in DC, my nearest major art museum, and the Whitney Museum in NYC since I knew I had work travel there in February.
After reviewing the exhibits on display, I planned solo visits over several Friday mornings. At the National Gallery of Art in DC, I saw the Paris 1874, Gordon Parks Photography, Elizabeth Catlett and Haitian Artists exhibits, and Edges of Alvin Ailey at the Whitney in NYC.
Because I did some pre-planning, I was lucky enough to catch the final days of the Paris 1874 and Edges of Ailey exhibits. Both were ending, which made me reflect on how fleeting and perhaps once in a lifetime some exhibits can be.
It reminded me of older folks reminiscing about seeing a legendary artist perform live in a particular city which remains a core memory.
Unlike permanent collections, exhibits are curated presentations that exist only for brief moments in time, and in some cases, the assembled works may never be shown together again. For example, the Paris 1874 exhibit I attended in January brought together pieces that typically reside in different corners of the world.
Museum curators invest immense effort into these exhibitions sourcing artwork from private collections and international museums, crafting compelling narratives, and designing experiences that, once gone, might never be recreated. So with this in mind, I feel they deserve the singular, focused visit experience.
And of course never skip the museum shop to grab physical keepsakes created for exhibitions like postcards, posters, and limited-edition books. I can never resist a good limited-edition coffee table art book, like the one I picked up from the Whitney for Edges of Alvin Ailey. These books are usually printed in small batches, making them a special addition to my library.
One of the things I want to do more of for the rest of the year is attend accompanying exhibit programs such as lectures, opening night events, workshops, and activities that transform the exhibition into something akin to an immersive art history workshop.
I've been practicing one-and-done art exhibit visits for a year now, and I can say that it’s helped me retain more art knowledge, recognize artworks included in an exhibit I attended much more easily, and participate in art discussions with a bit more ease than before.
Have you ever met someone who can talk about a particular artist or subject effortlessly? I suspect they’ve spent intimate time with the work. For me, singular art exhibits do that, they allow you to become more intimately acquainted with the pieces. Also on a petty level, at my imaginary dinner party while smoking my imaginary cigarette, I want the satisfaction to be able to say I’ve seen a particular famous artwork in person when the artist’s name comes up. You know what I mean.
A few upcoming exhibits I am excited about:
Amy Sherald: American Sublime opens at the Whitney Museum in NYC April 9 - August 10th and it will come to the DC Portrait Gallery in September 19, 2025 - February 22, 2026. The exhibit brings together 50 of her paintings in one place. Many of us have seen her portrait of Michelle Obama but I am looking forward to seeing her earlier works.
Superfine: Tailoring Black Style at the Met Gallery in NYC from May 10 through October 26, 2025. This feels like a once in a lifetime exhibit that’s a must see. The exhibit will examine the Black dandy. Dandy by the way is used to describe a man who is devoted to style. The exhibit will be a retrospective beginning in Europe in the 18th century through today.
Last word on going to see a singular exhibit—now more than ever, when guzzling the world news is just too much, there’s something very self-soothing about taking things in bite-sized pieces, like just one exhibit, and then reentering the maelstrom.
Find an exhibit. Get some respite.
There’s such grace in how you approach focus—not as restriction, but as reverence. I felt something shift in me reading this. The idea of visiting just one exhibit and letting that be enough… it feels like an act of resistance in a world obsessed with maximization. Your reflections remind me that depth isn’t just a method—it’s a form of devotion. Thank you for modeling what it looks like to slow down and truly see—in art, in reading, in life. I’ll be borrowing this rhythm.
Really lovely idea! I definitely will be trying this.