Shocking critics, the 1913 Armory Show—a makeshift exhibition at the 69th Regiment Armory, on Lexington Avenue—marked the first time the phrase “avant-garde” was used to describe art. Americans, more accustomed to realism, found themselves facing abstract works that made them uncomfortable, such as Marcel Duchamp’s cerebral Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2. Ultimately, the exhibition served as a gateway for the American embrace of modern art. The current Armory Show, which took its name from the first one, returns in its 32nd edition to open New York’s fall art season, hosting 230 international galleries from over 30 countries. Curated “Platform” and “Focus” sections highlight Caribbean artists and those from its diaspora, exploring themes of resilience and reconstruction. “Solo” features over 20 single-artist presentations. —Maggie Turner