Robert Rauschenberg’s New York: Pictures from the Real World
The Museum of the City of New York, in collaboration with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, proudly presents Robert Rauschenberg’s New York: Pictures from the Real World, a landmark exhibition celebrating the centennial of the artist’s birth (1925–2008).This major exhibition explores how Rauschenberg’s radical fusion of photography, painting, and found objects captured the pulse of New York and redefined contemporary art. Known as one of the most influential figures of postwar New York, Rauschenberg challenged artistic conventions and invited the city—and the world—into his work. The exhibition is structured in three chapters—Early Photographs, In + Out City Limits, and Photography in Painting—offering a fresh look at how photography shaped his practice across decades.
Together, these works illuminate Rauschenberg’s restless curiosity and his commitment to transforming everyday life into art, always attentive to the fleeting social, cultural, and emotional landscapes around him.
This exhibition is part of Rauschenberg 100, a year-long international initiative honoring the artist’s centennial. True to Rauschenberg’s belief that art should foster connection and civic engagement, the centennial program invites audiences—both longtime admirers and first-time viewers—to rediscover his work through a contemporary lens. Exhibitions, public programs, and cross-disciplinary projects worldwide highlight his lasting influence and encourage critical dialogue about art’s role in society.
Marking the centennial of Robert Rauschenberg’s birth, a fully illustrated publication bearing the same title accompanies the exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York.
About the Author
Robert Rauschenberg was born on October 22, 1925, in Port Arthur, Texas. Across a career that spanned six decades, his work was defined by a fearless embrace of experimentation—constantly testing the limits of materials, techniques, and artistic categories. Labeled an enfant terrible for his groundbreaking “Combines” (1954–64), which fused painting with discarded objects and urban fragments, Rauschenberg later shifted toward a radically pared-down visual language after relocating in 1970 to Captiva Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Although he resisted being tied to any single movement, he is often regarded as a precursor to nearly every major artistic development to follow Abstract Expressionism.
Beyond his own prolific production, Rauschenberg was deeply committed to supporting other artists and the broader creative community. In 1970, he established Change, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to helping artists cover urgent expenses. Between 1984 and 1991, he launched and personally funded the Rauschenberg Overseas Culture Interchange (ROCI), traveling to ten countries to foster cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration through art.
Rauschenberg’s impact was widely recognized during his lifetime, and his collaborative spirit—working with dancers, writers, engineers, and craftspeople—remains central to his legacy. His bold, inclusive vision continues to influence contemporary art and culture well into the present day.
Robert Rauschenberg’s New York: Pictures from the Real World
Through April 19, 2026
Museum of the City of New York
