Welcome back to Wall Power, my twice-weekly newsletter about how the art world really works. I’m Marion Maneker.

On Sunday, I gave you my quick read on the surprisingly sanguine mood at the art fairs held in New York last week. But art fairs are only one variable in the art market equation. Several important gallery shows opened last week, too, and more will open this week.

I haven’t managed to hit many of them yet, but I did attend a press preview for Mark Grotjahn’s Out of Country paintings—a series of abstract art works partially inspired by his adventures snowshoeing and skiing in the Rocky Mountains, where he has a home. It’s likely to be the last gallery show at Larry Gagosian’s flagship location at 980 Madison Avenue, across from the Carlyle Hotel, before the main offices are taken over by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Gagosian, who is said to have tried to buy the Breuer Building (two blocks south) before it sold to Sotheby’s, will look for new office space as he refurbishes the gallery’s exhibition and retail space on the street level. After all, he needs to preserve its proximity to Kappo Masa, the insanely expensive restaurant that he owns with chef Masayoshi Takayama.

Anyway, I’ll try to dig into the gallery shows around town another time. (They will be up for six weeks or more.) Tonight, I want to look forward to some of the museum exhibitions taking place around the Northeast (plus Chicago) this fall—or at least those I want to see. This is only a partial list and weighted toward my tastes. I’ll try to explain why.

But first…

• It’s finally happened: Glenn Lowry, who has served as the director of the Museum of Modern Art for 30 years, announced today via The New York Times that he will...