Press Release: New York Now: After Dark
Museum of the City of New York Announces Co-Curator Marina Chao for New York: After Dark and Open Call for Submissions
Triennial Theme Will Focus on All Facets of Nightlife in New York
New York, N.Y. (June 11, 2025) — The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) is pleased to announce the appointment of Marina Chao as Co-Curator for the Museum's upcoming triennial exhibition, New York Now: After Dark.
The triennial, which began in 2023, is dedicated to showcasing the best of contemporary photography, engaging with themes and issues of New York City through the photographic medium, while also reflecting on the city's past and future.
Scheduled to open to the public on November 20, 2026, New York Now: After Dark will explore the vibrant and multifaceted nightlife of New York City through the lens of contemporary photography. Chao will co-curate this exhibition alongside Sean Corcoran, the Museum’s Senior Curator of Prints and Photography.
Chao is currently curator at CPW in Kingston, New York and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role, having previously held curatorial positions at the International Center of Photography and the Museum of Modern Art. As Assistant Curator at ICP, she organized the exhibition Multiply, Identify, Her (2018) and contributed to the publication Public, Private, Secret: On Photography and the Configuration of Self (Aperture and ICP, 2018).
She was also awarded a 2019 Curatorial Research Fellowship from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts for a project exploring the intersections of images, language, and technology. Her background in contemporary photography will be an essential asset in shaping the exhibition.
New York Now: After Dark will delve into what nightfall means to New Yorkers. Once the sun goes down on the five boroughs, the city transforms into a realm of possibility, mystery, and freedom, where inhibitions wane and ambitions grow. For some, the night is a time for work and commerce, while for others, it offers a chance for leisure, entertainment, and social gatherings. These contrasting worlds collide in a unique, electric energy that defines New York City after dark.
In collaboration with Corcoran, Chao will help curate a dynamic exhibition that captures the essence of New York’s nightlife and its complex layers. Their partnership promises a compelling exploration of the city’s nighttime culture, bringing together both established and emerging artists to offer a nuanced visual narrative of New York’s nocturnal landscape.
The Museum invites amateur and professional photographers to submit images or videos for consideration for inclusion. Please see here for more information on the open call, which ends on August 11, 2025.
"We are thrilled to welcome Marina Chao to the curatorial team for our next triennial," said Stephanie Hill Wilchfort, Ronay Menschel Director and President of the Museum of the City of New York. "Her curatorial vision and depth of experience in contemporary photography will be instrumental in shaping an exhibition that captures the ever-evolving spirit of New York after dark—its energy, diversity, and complexity."
"I'm honored to be joining the Museum of the City of New York for this exciting project," said Marina Chao. "New York City’s nights are charged with emotional and social electricity that photography can uniquely express. I'm eager to work with Sean Corcoran to explore how photographers engage with the city's nocturnal spaces and the people who inhabit them."
Sean Corcoran commented, "Marina’s background in contemporary photography and her deep curatorial expertise make her an ideal collaborator for this exhibition. Her passion for exploring the intersections of images, language, and technology will bring a unique dimension to our exploration of New York’s nightlife. I am excited to work with her to capture the energy of the city after dark through the lens of the world’s most talented photographers.”
New York Now: After Dark is the second installment of the New York Now series, which began with New York Now: Home in 2023. The inaugural show featured the lens-based work of 33 artists, including Xyza Cruz Bacani, Roy Baizan, Laylah Amatullah Barrayn, Cinthya Santos Briones, Alan Chin, Jamel Shabazz, Laila Annemarie Stevens, Nolan Ryan Trowe, Elias Williams, and many others.
About the Museum of the City of New York
The Museum of the City of New York celebrates and interprets the city’s history, art, popular culture, and civic life, highlighting New York’s influence worldwide. Founded in 1923 as a private, nonprofit corporation, the Museum serves 200,000 visitors from around the world through exhibitions, school and public programs, publications, and collections.
Press Contact: Chris Gorman, cgorman@mcny.org, 917.492.3482
Image: New York City views. Night view south from RCA Building. Samuel H. Gottscho, 1933. Museum of the City of New York, 88.1.1.3027.
