The Drawing Center is a museum devoted to historical and contemporary drawing at 35 Wooster Street in SoHo, Manhattan. Its exhibitions bring together work on paper by artists with sharply different approaches, and shows change every few months. Past exhibitions have included Frank Walter’s paintings, drawings and archival material, as well as works by Josh Smith and Beauford Delaney. The galleries span two floors, with a small shop near the entrance. Admission is free, so you can drop in while exploring SoHo’s galleries and streets.
A gallery devoted to drawing
Founded in 1977 by curator Martha Beck, The Drawing Center gives drawing its own exhibition space in Manhattan’s SoHo district. Its program includes both historical and contemporary work, treating drawing as a medium with its own range and history. Exhibitions may bring together different approaches to works on paper, including pieces that sit outside conventional ideas of drawing.
The center’s work extends beyond exhibitions. Its activities include Open Sessions, a curated program for artists built around community and collaboration, as well as the Drawing Papers publication series, education and public programs. The galleries are set across two floors in a SoHo building with wooden floors and cast-iron columns.
Looking beyond the finished artwork
Some exhibitions place drawings alongside materials that reveal how an artist worked and what shaped a body of work. A presentation of Antiguan artist Frank Walter, for example, included paintings and drawings as well as documents about his family research, professional life, travels and other creative interests. Archival items showed his efforts to trace his genealogy and his work at the Antiguan Sugar Syndicate, where he became a manager in 1948. Other material covered his travels in the United Kingdom to study industrial technology, his books and poetry, and the home studio he built in rural Antigua.
Walter worked across more than one medium. His drawings and paintings appeared alongside records of his wider creative output, giving visitors more context for the work on the walls. The exhibition also included simple human figures; the accompanying material made clear that his practice involved sustained study and work, not only an instinctive style.
Different artists, different ways of drawing
The center’s changing program can place artists with distinct visual languages in the same visit. One exhibition paired Walter with Josh Smith, whose drawings brought a contrasting approach to the presentation. Another focused on Beauford Delaney through sketches, pastels and notebook drawings, tracing a career that moved from Harlem to Paris. A pastel portrait of James Baldwin, made in 1945, connected Delaney’s art with his long friendship with the writer.
These past exhibitions illustrate the range of subjects and materials the center presents, but they are not a promise of what will be on view during your visit. Check the current exhibition information before you go. Once inside, take time to read the exhibition text as well as looking at the works; archival documents and personal context have been part of some displays.
Perguntas frequentes
Is admission to The Drawing Center free?
Yes. Admission is free.
How long should I spend at The Drawing Center?
Allow about one to two hours to explore the galleries across both floors.
Where is The Drawing Center?
It is at 35 Wooster Street in SoHo, Manhattan.
Do the exhibitions change?
Yes. Exhibitions change every few months, so check the center’s website for the current program.
