Excerpt:
Art Basel Miami is over, so you can finally start enjoying the most wonderful time of the year—and there's no better place than in New York. While you're busy running around buying last minute gifts, set aside some time for yourself to appreciate the artistic treasures of the city. The Upper East Side is definitely the place to be this time of year, especially Madison Avenue. Maybe you associate the neighborhood with Mad Men or the cruel world of 1960s advertising, but put that aside and head uptown because the Upper East Side gallery scene is one of New York's better-kept secrets.
Madison Avenue, named after James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, is host to both prestigious fashion brands and major galleries, such as Di Donna gallery. There's just one week left to explore surrealist landscapes in an exhibition of works on loan from foundations and private collections by major artists such as René Magritte, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, and Man Ray, among others. Just up the block at Yoshii Gallery, Makoto Ofune is exhibiting his uniquely serene pieces, including his new stone sculptures. This Japanese New Age contemporary artist is known for reinventing traditional Japanese methods, and encouraging viewers to get lost contemplating his meditative work.