International Center of Photography Museum

"Right below Delancey on Essex on the Lower East Side sits the new-ish headquarters of the International Center of Photography. Contained within the 40,000-square-foot modernist building, there's a school with a library and darkrooms, vast archives, shooting studios, and a beautiful gallery space that's open to the public. It's this latter part, the museum, with which we are concerned here—it is cavernous and clean, abundantly lit thanks to skylights and massive windows, and copious floor space means there's room for everyone. Love Songs: Photography and Intimacy is on when I visit, and features canonical work by Nan Goldin ( Nan One Month After Being Battered! ) and Nobuyoshi Araki, among many others. You can move through the space however you want, as every juxtaposition and sequence is placed thoughtfully. The work sings!" - Andrea Whittle, Charlie Hobbs

"Quiet, Intimate Photography Museum For photography and art enthusiasts visiting NYC, don't overlook the International Center of Photography. Founded in 1974, ICP is conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan (42nd Street and Sixth Avenue). It's a world-leading museum, school, and research center for professional photographers, enthusiastic amateurs, artists, scholars, and students. The museum features a regular rotation of carefully curated photography exhibits focusing on historic as well as contemporary artists. Recent exhibits include Atget, Roman Vishniak, Elliott Erwitt, and Wang Qingsong. The museum is intimate and uncrowded, allowing visitors to savor the artwork in quiet contemplation. Plus, ICP offers a great gift store for photographers with a huge range of specialty books and fun camera-related gear."