The Whitney Museum of American Art is probably the leading institution specializing in contemporary American art. As the first museum dedicated to exhibiting the work of living American artists, The Whitney has continued to showcase the breadth and evolution of American art since its establishment by sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in 1930. Since 2015, the museum has been housed in a beautifully modern glass walled building right on the High Line.

The Whitney has a big permanent collection of over 24,000 works, which span the Ashcan School painting through the latest in contemporary art across all mediums, and includes a significant collection of art on identity and politics from the 80s and 90s. The museum also organizes a variety of exhibitions throughout the year, and at any given time have a handful on display. The longest running exhibition is the Biennial, an invitational that showcases work from the past two years. Their art also extends beyond the walls of the museum itself, with site-specific works in the neighborhood.