This latest collection of artwork at her promises to uncover some of the lesser-known and often overlooked beauty of the Big Apple.

 Contemporary American painter Sonya Sklaroff will be debuting her new series of paintings, Secrets of New York, at the historic Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel. This will be Sklaroff’s second solo exhibition with the Algonquin. The exhibition will commence with a private reception on Thursday, May 4, 2023, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM and will run from May 4 –May 30, Tuesday-Saturday 12:00 – 6:00 PM and by appointment.

Accompanying the exhibition will be a color catalog with a preface by best-selling author and theoretical physicist Lisa Randall.

Sklaroff’s new series portrays little-known treasures of New York City:  A small garden oasis tucked away in the heart of Soho, a tennis court on a garage rooftop on the East Side, a dead-end street overlooking the East River July 4th fireworks…

These oil-on-canvas paintings depict locations around the city that are not as recognizable as the city’s iconic tourist-filled landmarks. But not only are hidden locations revealed in Sklaroff’s new collection, but clandestine happenings are exposed:  A secret rendezvous in a garden, a crystal ball reading on a darkened side street, an afternoon shower for two in a patterned bathroom overlooking Central Park… These private moments add another dimension to Sklaroff’s already multi-layered and dramatic paintings, presenting a vibrant yet esoteric New York.

These three paintings exemplify the wonderful complexity that the collection embodies:

“Dancing under the Moonlight” (oil on canvas, 48×36) depicts an outdoor dance party with a lively jazz band and singer bellowing a tune. As the dancing couples enjoy the music in the moonlight, others sit at the tables chatting, drinking, and eyeing each other surreptitiously.

“East Side Romance” (oil on canvas, 48×36) portrays a woman showering in the daytime in her patterned bathroom, a window overlooking autumn in Central Park. But if the viewer observes more closely, the woman may not be alone.

“Secret Garden” (oil on canvas, 48×36) portrays an intimate SoHo garden in the springtime bursting with blooming flowers, the sun dappled on the leaves. Looking through the curls of a decorative wrought iron gate, the viewer notices people enjoying the lush surroundings: a mother tends to her baby, two people are chatting with their coffee, and lovers embrace.

“Through my Secrets of New York series, I wanted to show the unfamiliar spots in New York that people tend to overlook. There are not only places that are hidden in plain sight, but also at every moment secrets are happening around us” explains Sklaroff.

ABOUT THE ALGONQUIN HOTEL

Located close to the bustling heart of Times Square and 5th Avenue, this historic New York establishment has long entertained the city’s literary and cultural elite. The Algonquin Round Table, a group of famous literary figures, held weekly meetings at the Algonquin for years after World War I and led to the founding of The New Yorker magazine. Algonquin’s commitment to the arts continues to this day, including Sklaroff’s second solo exhibition of paintings.

ABOUT SONYA SKLAROFF

Sonya Sklaroff is a Contemporary American painter who lives and works in New York City. She received her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and her MFA from Parsons School of Design. Sklaroff has exhibited her work in solo exhibitions in the US and abroad. Her work may be found in public and private collections around the world.  Her paintings have been featured twice on LinkNYC’s 4000 digital kiosks in all five boroughs, and again this spring, LinkNYC will be displaying seven of Sklaroff’s colorful paintings of New York City from May 1-14 . These paintings highlight the joy and celebration of new life in the city. Several of these works will be included in the Algonquin exhibition and are also featured in Sklaroff’s new color exhibition catalogue.

SONYA SKLAROFF AT THE ALGONQUIN HOTEL (The Oak Room) – Located at 59 West 44th street and is open Tuesday through Saturday 12-6pm, or by appointment (please email  for an appointment. The exhibition will run from May 4 – 30.