Picturing New York: The Paintings of Peter Ruta

Peter Ruta has been painting New York for nearly 60 years. Picturing New York examines the paintings and gouaches Ruta has made of the city since 1970, when he moved to Westbeth, the artists' community in lower Manhattan. The paintings document the evolution of the area's built environment, its waterfront, and the disappearing relics of the neighborhood's industrial past. They focus on two primary views: the lower Manhattan skyline seen from his roof, and the West Village waterfront seen from his studio windows. A third group of works in the exhibition includes panoramic paintings Ruta made form his temporary studio on the 91st floor of the World Trade Center in 2000 and 2001.

Picturing New York: The Paintingsof Peter Ruta and the companion publication are made possible by the generous support of The Kaplen Foundation.