Robert Rauschenberg’s New York: Pictures from the Real World

Robert Rauschenberg’s artistic practice revolved around integrating “the real world” into his art, famously stating, “I want a picture to look like something it is.” This vision led him to incorporate found objects and photographs—ranging from taxidermized animals to newspaper clippings – into his work. In 2025, the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) will celebrate Rauschenberg’s centennial with Robert Rauschenberg’s New York: Pictures from the Real World, an exhibition that explores Rauschenberg’s complex relationship with photography, particularly in the context of New York City.

The exhibition will feature three sections: “Early Photographs,” “In + Out City Limits / New York,” and “Photography in Painting”. An interactive collage component invites visitors to engage with Rauschenberg’s innovative image-making approach. The show is complemented by a companion book published by MCNY and Giles Ltd.