In celebration of the centennial of Robert Rauschenberg (1925–2008), the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) presents Robert Rauschenberg’s New York: Pictures from the Real World. This dynamic exhibition explores Rauschenberg’s innovative integration of photography and found objects into his art, reflecting his deep engagement with “the real world” and his complex relationship with New York City. The show is organized into three sections — “Early Photographs,” “In + Out City Limits,” and “Photography in Painting” — tracing the evolution of Rauschenberg’s photographic practice and its interplay with painting, sculpture, and assemblage.Left: Robert Rauschenberg “New York City” (1983) gelatin silver print (© Robert Rauschenberg Foundation); Right: Robert Rauschenberg “New York City” (1983) gelatin silver print (© Robert Rauschenberg Foundation)The centerpiece of the exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York is In + Out City Limits, a three-year (1979–81) photographic survey conducted across the United States — a project Rauschenberg had originally conceived decades earlier as a student at Black Mountain College in North Carolina. His New York photographs from this project reveal his fascination with the signs and symbols of human culture, even in the most humble or discarded remnants of the city. Together, these photos emphasize his observational rigor and his constant effort to channel the fleeting, ineffable moments of life into his work — revealing a deep sensitivity to the social landscape. In addition, the exhibition presents a selection of works created between 1963 and 1994 that combine Rauschenberg’s New York City photographs with images taken around the world, illustrating how he re-contextualized his photographic imagery through his innovative creative process. To learn more, visit mcny.org. Robert Rauschenberg, “New York City” (1980), gelatin silver print (© Robert Rauschenberg Foundation)Lead funding for Robert Rauschenberg’s New York: Pictures from the Real World has been provided by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, with additional support provided by Matt & Marisa Brown, Ronay & Richard Menschel, Jill & Peter Kraus, Elizabeth Belfer, and Gillian & Robert Steel. This exhibition is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. The Museum of the City of New York’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.Robert Rauschenberg “New York City” (1981) gelatin silver print (© Robert Rauschenberg Foundation)