Established in 1987 thanks to a gift from the Wallach family, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs unites what had formerly been five separate departments under a single banner. Divisional holdings comprise works of art, pictures, ephemera, as well as reference materials on painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, photography, and the history of architecture from prehistoric times to the present. The Wallach Division also serves as the access point to the Spencer Collection of fine bindings and illustrated books and the Picture Collection, founded in 1915, which is organized by subjects depicted. Together, these collections include more than two million works of items in various mediums and formats, complemented by nearly 700,000 monographs and periodicals. The quality, depth, and scope of these holdings have earned the Wallach Division an international reputation among a broad variety of scholars and lovers of art. Learn more about this division.
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street
Third Floor
New York, NY 10018
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street
Third Floor
New York, NY 10018
212-930-0835
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Fully Accessible
Closed today
Division is by appointment only.
Regular Hours
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs
Day | Hours |
---|---|
Monday: | 10 AM–5:45 PM |
Tuesday: | 10 AM–5:45 PM |
Wednesday: | 10 AM–5:45 PM |
Thursday: | 10 AM–5:45 PM |
Friday: | 10 AM–5:45 PM |
Saturday: | 10 AM–5:45 PM |
Sunday: | CLOSED |
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Our staff welcomes students and instructors to explore the collections and resources at our landmark 42nd Street building. We work with instructors to design sessions that use the Library’s remarkable collections to foster creative inquiry, cultivate critical thinking, and develop information literacy skills. Learn more.
Explore Subdivisions
Current Exhibitions
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Dynamic Duos: The Art of Working in Pairs
Through August 2, 2025Stephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThis exhibition demonstrates how artists have long explored the possibilities of what it means to work together.
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Robert Motherwell: At Home and in the Studio
Through August 2, 2025Stephen A. Schwarzman BuildingNYPL celebrates the recent gift of prints by Robert Motherwell and books from the artist’s personal library.
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The Skeleton Caricatures of Posada | Las meras meras calaveras de Posada
OngoingOnline OnlyStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThis online exhibition presents a selection of Posada’s calaveras and announces the digitization of the entirety of the Library’s Posada…