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The Arts Intel Report

New York, New Music: 1980–1986

June 11 – Dec 3, 2021
1220 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029, United States

Debbie Harry, Fab 5 Freddy, Grandmaster Flash, Tracy Wormworth, and Chris Stein laughing together on a fenced blacktop. Joey Ramone wearing shades on St. Mark’s. Run DMC and Posse striking poses in Hollis, Queens. A blur of Talking Heads. LL Cool J looking coolly into the camera, a stereo hoisted on his shoulder. From punk to pop to hip-hop to jazz, this exhibition, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of MTV, offers a rhythmic, captivating portrait of 1980s New York. —J.V.

LL Cool J, 1985. Photo: Janette Beckman.