Listed: 7 Must-See Art Exhibits

What's better than a museum to escape from the dog days of summer, with their humidity and unending, blazing sun glare?  When you decide you need to take a break from the heat and treat your eyes to a feast of beautiful things, we have compiled a list of must-see art shows that we think you'll find to be quite cool.

Reigning Men: Fashion in Menswear, 1715–2015- LACMA, Los Angeles
Exploring notions of "masculinity" and "femininity" through dress, this historical collection of menswear should both inspire and amaze, the dandy, the daddy, and the gentle man.  Closes August 21.

Image above: Jean Paul Gaultier, France, born 1952/Lounging Suit from the "Pin-Up Boys" collection (detail) / Spring-Summer 1996 / Purchased with funds provided by Louise and Brad Edgerton, Edgerton Foundation / M.2014.9a--b

American Epics: Thomas Hart Benton and Hollywood, Milwaukee Art Museum
Thomas Hart Benton, the mentor of Jackson Pollock, and oil painting legend, depicted the early years of American industrialism with cinematic dynamism.  This exhibition explores the larger than life work of this master and its relation to the birth of Hollywood and the film industry. Closes September 5.

Women of Abstract Expressionism, Denver Art Museum
The history of Abstract Expressionism is currently being rewritten, as the female artists of the time are finally getting their limelight. This ground-breaking show,  explores gesture and expression through the known and unknown works of 50 female artists of the time. Closes September 25.

Kerry James Marshall: Mastery, Museum of Contemporary Art: Chicago
Experience the prolific career of Chicago's greatest living painter, Kerry James Marshall. Through old master techniques, Marshall explores race, gender, and politics. Spanning 35 years, the work seems timeless with its discussions of African American beauty and the social injustices still experienced by the community. Closes September 25.

Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks, Pérez Art Museum, Miami
Jean-Michel Basquiat ruled the streets of NYC in the 80s.  His graffiti marked subway cars, and the burned out buildings of the Lower East Side.  He was prolific and painted and drew on anything he could get his hands on.  A voracious reader and investigator, Basquiat was always formulating his visual vocabulary.  In collaboration with the Brooklyn Museum, this exhibition highlights 160 pages of unseen journals, which allows us to understand the inner workings of this beloved genius. Closes October 16.

Art AIDS America, The Bronx Museum of Arts, New York
The AIDS epidemic hit the art world hard.  Many artists lives were lost, yet their work lives on, as it inspires visual expression in a world still impacted by AIDS.  This exhibit of 125 works, spanning from 1981 - present, is both powerful and thought-provoking. Exploring the work of Bronx natives, the New York community at large, and America, the exhibit asks us to question why women and people of color are still underrepresented in this important dialogue. Closes October 23.

Diane Arbus: In the Beginning, The MET Breuer, New York
The tragic life of Diane Arbus is a thing of poetry.  This exhibit includes never before seen photographs taken during the artist's first seven years of her career (1965-1962).  Snake through the labyrinthine installation, and witness the dark, yet lovingly documented, carnival freaks, transvestites, and outsiders, who Arbus made famous with her intimate portraits. Closes November 27.

Image above: Diane Arbus (1923-1971). Taxicab driver at the wheel with two passengers, N.Y.C. 1956 © The Estate of Diane Arbus, LLC. All Rights Reserved