With its rich collection of modern, contemporary, and historic American works across ten galleries, the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, New York is a must-visit destination for art collectors who feel connected to the coast. The Parrish collection spans 3,000 pieces—from 19th-century American Impressionist landscapes to groundbreaking contemporary art by icons like Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner, and Cindy Sherman.

Now nestled in the heart of the Hamptons, this museum celebrates the region’s legacy as a haven for American artists like William Merritt Chase—whose plein-air paintings capture the beauty of Shinnecock Hills—and Fairfield Porter—whose realist works are intimately rooted in the surrounding landscape. Whether drawn to its rotating exhibitions or vast permanent collection, the Parrish embodies East End’s enduring creative spirit. Read on to learn about five artists who have exhibited with the Parrish and how their work connects to the coast.

Celebrating Herzog & Meuron Architects’ Design for the New Parrish Art Museum

Established 127 years ago in the Historic Jobs Lane complex of Southampton Village, the Parrish recently relocated to Water Mill on Long Island’s East End in 2012. The new Parrish Art Museum was designed by Herzog & de Meuron Architects. Let’s talk a bit about the site’s design for the architecture buffs reading this article.

With its straightforward building extrusion, the Parrish Art Museum’s site on Long Island is a strikingly modern reinterpretation of the region’s traditional architecture. Herzog & de Meuron’s employed local construction methods to ground the structure in its setting. The overall building form runs along an east-west orientation to ensure it integrates wholly with the landscape. Herzog & de Meuron’s team maximized natural light through north-facing skylights that illuminate art from the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.

The elongated, barn-like structure spans 615 feet with a footprint of 34,000 square feet. Inside, the ten galleries are arranged along a central circulation spine. Model galleries form wings on either side of the gallery core. Its model galleries extend outward as wings, offering both flexibility and an engaging visitor experience.

Outdoor porches, large overhangs, and a continuous bench seamlessly connect the museum’s design to its landscape, which was curated by Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture to emphasize local flora. Learn more about their creative process here.

5 Artists Who Have Exhibited at the Iconic Parrish Art Museum

James Brooks

James Brooks’s work finds a natural home at the Parrish Art Museum, where coastal collectors will resonate with his bold abstractions and connection to the East End. A key figure in the New York School, Brooks lived and worked in East Hampton. He often drew inspiration from the surrounding light and landscape.

The Parrish has celebrated his legacy through exhibitions like James Brooks: Process of Discoveryin 2016 and the comprehensive retrospective James Brooks: A Painting Is a Real Thing, which showcased his seven-decade career back a couple years ago in 2023. From his innovative use of chance in abstract compositions to his mastery of color, Brooks’s work reflects the dynamic, ever-changing essence of coastal life.

By engaging with his art at the Parrish, collectors can explore how the natural rhythms of Long Island shaped one of America’s most influential painters.

Alexis Rockman

Alexis Rockman’s ecological narratives will deeply resonate with coastal collectors and nature enthusiasts who visit the Parrish. Known for his ability to fuse art, science, and history, Rockman presented East End Field Drawings at the Parrish from 2015 to 2016.

This exhibition featured 93 striking works created using organic materials—like soil from Cedar Point—collected across eastern Long Island. These unique pieces celebrate the flora and fauna of the region while sparking a conversation about humanity’s impact on local ecosystems.

Keith Sonnier

Keith Sonnier’s innovative light sculptures and conceptual works make him one of the most interesting artists to ever exhibit at the Parrish Art Museum. His 2018 solo show, Keith Sonnier: Until Today, marked the first comprehensive retrospective of his work in 35 years. It displayed over 30 pieces spanning from 1967 to 2020, when the artist passed away.

Drawing inspiration from his Cajun roots in Mamou, Louisiana, Sonnier redefined modern sculpture through his pioneering use of neon light. His work often evokes comparisons to the Light and Space Movement. With their nuanced exploration of these dynamics, we know that his sculptures will resonate deeply with collectors drawn to coastal landscapes.

Clifford Ross

Clifford Ross’s Light | Waves installation at the Parrish Art Museum captivated viewers with its stunning interplay of realism, abstraction, and the untamed force of nature. Featured in the museum’s 2017 Platform series, Ross’s work showcased large-scale prints from his iconic Hurricane Wave series, which he captured during storms off the Long Island coast.

Printed directly onto maple veneer, these dramatic images transformed the wood’s organic grain into part of the visual dialogue. They emphasize the raw power and fluidity of coastal landscapes.

William Merritt Chase

William Merritt Chase’s timeless plein-air paintings might be a bit more traditional than the pieces that attract contemporary collectors, but they truly embody the artistic heritage and stunning nature of this area. His landscapes of the Shinnecock Hills capture the area’s distinct light, rolling dunes, and windswept vistas.

The 2018 exhibition William Merritt Chase: The Shinnecock Years highlighted the artist’s ability to blend European techniques with an American sensibility. For today’s collectors, Chase’s legacy not only bridges tradition with innovation but also reflects the enduring allure of the Hamptons.

Visit the Parrish to Connect with the Coast

We encourage you to visit the Parrish Art Museum this year—whether you’re inspired by Keith Sonnier’s innovative light sculptures, Alexis Rockman’s ecological narratives, or William Merritt Chase’s timeless landscapes.

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