TUESDAY, MAY 8
Talk: Bill Kelly in Conversation with Chuck Close at CUNY Graduate Center
CUNY Graduate Center hosts a conversation between Chuck Close, whose large-scale portraits are among the most recognizable works in contemporary art, and its president, Bill Kelly. –Michael H. Miller
Elebash Recital Hall, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, tickets available at smarttix.com or 212-868-4444, 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, MAY 10
Opening: Sam Falls at American Contemporary
In much of his work, Mr. Falls carries photography into brilliant and unexpected places. On the more traditional end of the spectrum, he has drawn on top of prints (a richly colored example is on view uptown at Higher Pictures through May 26), but he also used the sun to fade and color stretches of fabric, making photograms in the most rawest, most elemental sense. No doubt the indefatigable artist has some new inventions to offer here. —Andrew Russeth
American Contemporary, 4 East 2nd Street, New York, 6–8 p.m.
Artist Talk: Liam Gillick and Simon Critchley at the Brooklyn Museum
Philosopher Simon Critchley and artist Liam Gillick take prompts from the audience to kick off a talk about how the intersection of their work touches on the subject of utopianism. Visitors can submit questions in advance via the Brooklyn Museum’s various social media sites. —Rozalia Jovanovic
Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, 7 p.m.
Opening: Ari Marcopoulos, “Wherever You Go,” at Marlborough Gallery
Photographer and filmmaker Ari Marcopoulos is known for his intimate and gritty portraits of artists, musicians and skateboarders, and his own history as a member of the downtown New York scene, and an assistant to Andy Warhol. Among his latest portrait subjects is Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks. Seen through Mr. Marcopoulos’s lens, we’re allowed a remarkably personal and fresh look at the athlete. —R.J.
Marlborough Gallery, 545 West 25th Street, New York, 6-8 p.m.
FRIDAY, MAY 11
Opening: Michael Bauer “H.S.O.P. 1973″ at Lisa Cooley
Lisa Cooley presents painter Michael Bauer’s first solo show in New York. The title’s acronym is an arbitrary reference to the Hudson River School of Painting, though Mr. Bauer’s bright, chaotic works are pretty much joyful abstractions. —M.H.M.
Lisa Cooley Gallery, 107 Norfolk Street, New York, 6-8 p.m.
Opening: Laurie Anderson
Vito Schnabel presents an exhibit of paintings and drawings by the sound and performance artist, including a tribute to her dog Lola Belle. —Dan Duray
Unnamed exhibition Space, Greenwich and Leroy Streets, New York, 6-8 p.m.
SATURDAY, MAY 12
Gala: White Columns
Everybody’s favorite, White Columns, hosts its annual gala with a silent auction with works by N. Dash, Andrew Kuo, Billy Childish,Walter Robinson, B. Wurtz, Mickalene Thomas, Spencer Sweeney—there are really too many good artists contributing this to name in their entirety. And it’s for a good cause! —D.D.
White Columns, 320 West 13 Street, New York, entrance on Horatio, 7 p.m., tickets start at $150.
SUNDAY, MAY 13
Opening: “Civic Action: A Vision for Long Island City” at Socrates
Curator Amy Smith-Stewart helms the second part of this two-part show about alternative visions for Long Island City, which have been offered up by four artists: Mary Miss, Rirkrit Tiravanija George Trakas and Natalie Jeremijenko combined with xClinic. An impressive array of public programs—from a kite flight to an outdoor cinema that combines films with cuisine from neighborhood restaurants) served out of a Tiravanija installation—will follow throughout the summer. —A.R.
Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Boulevard, Queens, 2–6 p.m.
