The New York Historical Society has opened The New York Sari, showcasing the deep influence that South Asians have had on the culture of New York City and how individuals have drawn strength from tradition while looking clearly towards a bolder future of inclusion and progress.
The exhibition which runs until April 26, 2026, centers the sari as an essential part of the cultural fabric of New York City, using it as a metaphor for the ways in which the individuals who wear and create saris have straddled tradition, culture, and modernity in their work, art, and lives.
The exhibition tells the stories of who wears saris, the relationship between saris and identities, and how they’ve evolved over time, according to a media release.
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It showcases the deep influence that South Asians have had on the culture of New York City from the Gilded Age to the present day, beginning with the little known history of Coney Island’s first theme park and culminating with the vibrant communities that are home to the South Asian diaspora today.
Offering a unique history of migrant communities and gender in New York City, the exhibition explores how individuals have drawn strength from tradition while looking clearly towards a bolder future of inclusion and progress.
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Curated by Salonee Bhaman, Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Women’s History and Public History, and Anna Danziger Halperin, Director for the Center for Women’s History.
Support for The New York Sari is provided by Council Member Shekar Krishnan. Exhibitions in the Joyce B. Cowin Women’s History Gallery are made possible by Joyce B. Cowin and The New York Historical’s Women’s History Council, according to the release.
Epicenter NYC is the community media partner, while WNET is the media sponsor.