Robert Rauschenberg's New York: Pictures From The Real World

Robert Rauschenberg's New York: Pictures From The Real WorldCatalog: In celebration of the centennial of Robert Rauschenberg (19252008), and in partnership with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) presents Robert Rauschenbergs New York: Pictures from the Real World, a major exhibition opening on September 12, 2025. This dynamic show explores Rauschenbergs innovative integration of photography and found objects into his art, reflecting his deep engagement with the real

Catalog: In celebration of the centennial of Robert Rauschenberg (1925–2008), and in partnership with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) presents Robert Rauschenberg’s New York: Pictures from the Real World, a major exhibition opening on September 12, 2025. This dynamic show explores Rauschenberg’s innovative integration of photography and found objects into his art, reflecting his deep engagement with “the real world” and his complex relationship with New York City. 

Widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of postwar New York, Rauschenberg’s irreverent approach to art-making pushed the envelope for an entire generation, reshaping the art world in New York and around the world. At the heart of his practice was a desire to incorporate the tangible world around him into his art. Gathering materials and inspiration from his surroundings, he often brought found objects and images sourced or reproduced from magazines and newspapers into his paintings and sculptures. But Rauschenberg was not merely a user of found imagery; he was also a photographer with a bold creative vision— an essential aspect of his artistic practice that is the focus of the exhibition.