Art

11 New York Galleries to Watch Out For Right Now

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Portrait of Sara Blazej.

Sara’s, Chinatown

Current show:  “Inorganic Demons” by Harris Rosenblum

Founder: Sara Blazej

Why open a gallery this February?

I've been working towards having a space like this for a long time. I previously ran a gallery out of my apartment. Sara's is a continuation of that spirit on a larger scale. Over the last 10 years I've built a career working in galleries (starting with the legendary Metro Pictures!), and I chose to go forward with Sara's this year because I finally felt that I have all the tools and support to look for something physical.

Describe the gallery’s ethos in a few words?

Discursive, fun, communal.

What can people expect walking into Sara’s?

A sculpture show, a throat-singing demonstration, a live play, a panel conversation, a community dinner, or a fabulous art cake.

What’s next for Sara’s?

This summer, Whitney Mallett will be organizing a series of plays, Lena Greene will be hosting her famous Montez Got Talent competition, and Peter BD has planned seven days of live programming titled "Et cetera…" I'm organizing film screenings, and a series of lectures led by art world professionals that will shed light on topics like artwork appraising, managing collections, or their own research practices. Then, I'll have a painting show in the fall. I'm collaborating with Nick Klein on publishing artist audio (records, tapes, etc.) and physical publications related to the program here. We hope to have our first release in August. I also plan to do fairs. The emphasis of the space is not on sales, but I absolutely aim to support and build my artists’ careers—including their market—while at the same time, giving space and support to those whose practices might not naturally be embraced by the market.

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Rafa Macarrón, Untitled, 2023. Courtesy of Lio Malca and the artist.

60 White, Tribeca (opens May 20)

Inaugural show: “Too Loud a Solitude / Una Soledad Demasiado Ruidosa” by Rafa Macarrón

Founder: Lio Malca

Why open 60 White this month in New York?

While my global artistic projects have continued to expand, I’ve always had close ties to New York and have always loved the downtown area. I find Tribeca to be such an accessible neighborhood, close to all the subways with many restaurants around. The buildings have charm to them, almost like a European city with its own romantic aura. As soon as I found 60 White, I fell in love with it.

Describe 60 White's ethos in a few words.

60 White is designed specifically to serve as a multidisciplinary venue—not a gallery. Think of it as a stage to share the artwork and artist projects that continue to inspire me. The exhibition space is anything but neutral—it’s filled with energy and personality.

Tell us about the inaugural show with Rafa Macarrón.

In these new paintings—which are massive in scale—Rafa’s taking a more introspective approach to humanity and emotion, evoking the gritty vibrancy of New York. It was amazing to see Rafa working in the space, which allowed him to respond to the architecture of the building and the surrounding environment of the city.

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Portrait of Tara Downs with Rute Merk, Gemian, 2023. Photography by Maegan Gindi. Image courtesy of Downs.

Tara Downs, Soho

Current shows“Rute Merk: XP” and “Deanna Havas: Message From the Source”

Founder: Tara Downs

What can people expect walking into Tara Downs?

When you arrive into the gallery off Broadway, you come directly into our open space illuminated by natural light from a row of windows. The original wood floors and supporting columns give it so much Soho character. Our larger exhibition space is generally dedicated to a gallery artist showing new work, while our smaller space is where we present works by artists we want to introduce to New York, as well as special projects by represented artists.

Tell us about the current shows.

Rute Merk's new exhibition, “XP,” combines two letters to produce a multivalent phrase; originating as "Experience Point" in other contexts, it could stand for extreme programming or cross-platforming—these alternative definitions aren't far removed from the feats of translation accomplished by Merk’s large-scale oil paintings.

In “Message From the Source,” Deanna Havas presents a series of paintings partly inspired by themes from Vincent van Gogh’s late works, interpreted through a combination of freeware graphics, unlicensed commercial stock photography, and Photoshop effects.

What’s next for Tara Downs?

We have a summer group show which we are excited about, and we have started a series of live programs at the gallery. Our upcoming program includes a talk with Dean Kissick, Deanna Havas, and Rute Merk on May 16; a panel we are calling “Downtown Dealers,” moderated by Elizabeth Dee on May 31; and programs with Matt Starr, Eli Coplan, and Jacky Connolly.

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”Under Machine Thing” (installation view), April 7-May 7, 2023, featuring Danny McDonald, An Inauspicious Speculation, 2022, and Georgia Gardner Gray, Learn English, 2020. Image courtesy of Francis Irv.

Francis Irv, Chinatown

Current show: Benjamin Echeverria (opens May 17)

Founders: Sam Marion Wilken and Shane Rossi

Describe the gallery’s ethos in a few words.

Our ethos is to craft a program that’s focused around curiosity as opposed to the authority of a specific approach, where reciprocal engagement between the artist, gallerist, and viewer is fundamental.

What can people expect walking into Francis Irv?

The scale of the gallery is such that selection and composition can have a transformative impact on the environment. This is at once both a hurdle and an asset, as we love seeing what the space can handle, but its limitations are transparent.

Tell us about the show opening next week.

Since the gallery’s earliest stages, we have been interested in working with Benjamin Echeverria. His practice, which explores odd balances in composition across a variety of mediums, speaks directly to the environment they were created in: tangling incidental activity in the studio, past bodies of work, and relationships with other artists and art history. You can expect this installation to be treated consonant to the way the paintings themselves are built, rewarding patient engagement and a sensitive relationship to the space they occupy.

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Portrait of Silke Lindner by Victoria Ng. Image courtesy of Lindner.

Silke Lindner, Tribeca

Current show: “Tomás Díaz Cedeño: Humming Songs”

Founder: Silke Lindner

Describe the gallery’s ethos in a few words.

No ethos. It’s really intuitive, and I just show what I like, which often tends to be a little on the darker side.

What works can people expect to see walking into Silke Lindner?

Visually striking works that captivate the zeitgeist. They often have an enigmatic quality to them and evoke certain psychological states. When the work lingers and continues to stimulate beyond the mere moment of looking, that’s usually when it becomes interesting to me.

Tell us about the current show.

The show comprises seven ceramic bas-relief wall pieces, framed in steel, and a floor installation of motorized rattles from rattlesnakes that are activated by the visitors’ movements. I’ve known Tomás [Díaz Cedeño] for several years and have been closely following his work since I saw his incredible installation at the last New Museum Triennial. I’m thrilled to be now showing his first U.S. solo exhibition!

What’s next for Silke Lindner?

I’m very excited for my summer group show titled “Ideal Shapes of Disappearing,” featuring works by Eva Gold, Elizabeth Jaeger, Lotus Laurie Kang, Irina Lotarevich, and Quay Quinn Wolf. The show relates to the idea of Object Permanence, the understanding that objects and people still exist even when you can't see or hear them. It focuses on the presence of absence—the absence of others and absence of the self.

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Image courtesy of Amanita.

Amanita, Bowery

Current show: “Works on Paper: 100 Years” (opens May 18)

Founders: Tommaso Rositani Suckert, Caio Twombly, Jacob Hyman, and Garrett Goldsmith

Why open an Amanita space in New York last September?

We had an opportunity with an incredible location and felt all the circumstances were in place to start something significant. Our space, once part of the former CBGB venue, is an important landmark for New York and the world’s music history. Beyond its formal aspects, it is a location that gets artists and visitors excited, which is priceless. We had mounted an exciting show in New York the previous fall, and given our ties to the city, both personal and professional, we knew that we had to be here.

Describe the gallery’s ethos in a few words.

To resist categorization and to maintain spontaneity.

Tell us about the show opening next week.

It brings together works on paper from over 50 artists of the last century. The exhibition is not so much a survey of works on paper as it is a critical pursuit opening up questions about genre and taxonomy. You will see examples of works that seamlessly sway between portraiture, landscape, still life, history painting, etc. It’s an exciting group of artists, most of whom have never been exhibited in the same room.

What’s next for Amanita in New York?

We are very excited to be collaborating with Antwaun Sargent and Yale’s 2023 MFA Photo consortium on realizing their thesis show in our gallery on Bowery. The group of 10 artists work between photo, video, and installation. The show, which will go up at the end of July, will exhibit a range of photography practices anchored by a series of three installations situated throughout the gallery.

Image courtesy of Tchotchke Gallery.

Tchotchke Gallery, Williamsburg

Current show: “Not From Venus: Mack Brim and Tara Lewis”

Founders: Danielle Dewar and Marlee Katz

Why open Tchotchke Gallery last December?

We opened a physical space in East Williamsburg last December to advance our mission of making art more accessible and inclusive while supporting emerging artists and creating a sense of community. We felt that East Williamsburg was the perfect location due to its close proximity to many of the artists we work with, as well as its diverse community and rich history.

What can people expect walking into the gallery?

Walking into Tchotchke Gallery, one can expect to see paintings from artists that we adore. Our pre-war space is cozy, welcoming, and far from the traditional white cube. 311 Graham has had many lives (years ago it was a dentist’s office, and prior to our move-in it was a vegan cheese shop), and the small archways and curved feature walls emphasize the warm, neighborhood feel we aim for.

Our curatorial focus tends to lean towards figurative and narrative-based work, as that is what we are most drawn to. We believe that art has the power to start important conversations, and we often look for connections between artists and practices that create a thought-provoking dialogue. As such, our programming decisions are certainly informed by our relationships with artists and our dedication to sharing their work with our audience.

What’s next for Tchotchke Gallery?

Our next exhibition is called “High Maintenance,” highlighting 32 female-identifying artists from all over the world. This show celebrates the strength of women and makes a powerful statement directed at the art world ecosystem, elevating the voices of artists who are often overlooked. Thereafter, we have a duo show presenting the work of Colorado-based Madison Warp and Brooklyn-based Von Hyin Kolk.

Photography by William Jess Laird. Image courtesy of Galerie Was.

Galerie Was, Lower East Side (opens by appointment May 18)

Founders: Allie Fitzpatrick, Andy McCune, and Lauren Piscione

Why start Galerie Was this May?

It was the natural next step in our collective creative exploration. We love putting things out into the world that add to the human experience. It also feels timely—there's an amazing group of young people putting their mark on design right now. We feel we have a perspective and something to say, as do the artists we represent.

Describe the gallery’s ethos in a few words.

Approachable, livable, sophisticated, collected, layered, patinaed, romantic, nostalgic yet new.

What can people expect walking into Galerie Was?

The past, the present, and the future. A hyper-curated selection of collectible vintage pieces mixed with found treasures and the works of contemporary artists such as Nancy Kwon, A for Ara, Yoona Hur, Mugly.NYC, Marianne Kolb, Oda & King, Kilzi, Koen Van Guijze, and Anna Karountzou.

What’s next for Galerie Was this summer?

An ever-changing, ever-evolving collection of found things that we love, see beauty in and can't wait to share. We'll be sourcing from Sweden, Japan, and Italy next!

Photography by Jayson Edward Carter. Image courtesy of ”B” Dry Goods.

“B” Dry Goods, Crown Heights

Current show: “PICASSO/MATISSE: SOUVENIRS”

Founder: Gabriel Boyers

Describe the gallery’s ethos in a few words.

Sophisticated, quirky, approachable.

What can people expect walking into “B” Dry Goods?

I refer to “B” Dry Goods as a “multidisciplinary gallery" and deal not only in art, but also materials related to design, the performing arts, theater and film, literary arts and even some historical material. This is a gallery for people who are interested in beautiful and interesting things across category boundaries.

Tell us about the current show.

This show is our modest contribution to the worldwide slate of blockbuster exhibitions commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of Pablo Picasso. A work of art can be a souvenir, and there are works of art in this exhibition. But this is a show which also celebrates more humble ways of remembering these giants. From Matisse, a colorful original design for a baptismal certificate and an illustrated letter humorously proposing a design for a chastity belt, join illustrated sheet music and dance programs and other ephemera. Prints and posters by Picasso, hang with original photographs of the artist, rare and early monographs and books, and assorted ephemera including a paper crown inscribed by the artist to dancer Serge Lifar and a highly amusing pair of white shorts, signed by the artist for an autograph seeker.

What’s next for “B” Dry Goods?

This show will be followed mid-summer by “FIRST COME/FIRST HUNG,” an open-call group show where we will have a few days of open hours during which any artist can bring a work under a particular size and we will hang them on the walls for a month. After that we'll be closed for a bit late August and will reopen with a big show around fashion arts, called “Fashion Forward,” timed with the fall NYC Fashion Week.

Image courtesy of JO-HS.

JO-HS, Tribeca (opens May 15)

Inaugural show: “Realities in Dialogue: Melissa Ríos”

Founder: Elisabeth Johs

Why open a space in New York?

My decision to expand and open a space in New York comes with a desire to further build the bridge between our programme in Mexico City and in New York. We have had the opportunity to create space for European and US artists at JO-HS cdmx and I wish to offer the same opportunity to the Latin artists on our roster in New York.

What can people expect walking into JO-HS New York?

They can expect to see works by excellent contemporary female artists from across the globe but with a focus on Latin America. We work primarily with emerging contemporary artists and will be continuing to do so across the two spaces. JO-HS cdmx is a collaborative and explorative space which operates as a home and artist residency. JO-HS New York will take a more focused approach with a programme of more concentrated research-based presentations.

Tell us about the inaugural show.

It’s a solo presentation of a new body of work made in the last 6 months in Mexico City by Costa Rican painter Melissa Ríos. Melissa joined our residency a year and a half ago, and we recently announced [our] representation of her. Her artistic production focuses primarily on painting and drawing where she explores and contemplates images and space from a feminine, literary, poetic and surrealist perspective, blurring the lines between figuration and abstraction.

Image courtesy of Field of Play.

Field of Play, Gowanus

Current show: “Universal Transmission,” curated by Christopher Daharsh (opens May 20)

Founder: Matt Logsdon

Why start Field of Play last fall?

During the pandemic, I spent time away from the city. While it was healing in lots of ways, I felt, like many others, disconnected from community. When I moved back to Brooklyn in 2021, I really wanted to find a way to establish and nurture an art community. Part of that has been to provide exhibition opportunities to others and hold space for people to gather and connect. What’s unique about Field of Play is the dual mission, which also includes supporting wellness for creative folks.

FOP is the merging of my two professions. I have been a physical trainer and coach for 20 years. I have found fitness and art to be complementary in my own life; prioritizing them both has shaped my holistic understanding of wellbeing. I am excited to share what I have learned and hopefully contribute to a happier, healthier art community in NYC and beyond.

Describe the gallery's ethos in a few words.

Society tells us we must be experts in a narrow field and we need to choose: body, mind, or spirit. My hope with FOP is to dispel this and empower people to bring the fullness of themselves to the art world. I think of “the field” as the space where we can gather, test our minds and bodies, make discoveries, support one another, and play.

What’s next for Field of Play?

We are excited to focus on community this summer. We will host workshops and gatherings in Prospect Park during July and August. After Universal Transmission comes down mid-July, we have plans to curate a show at an NYC art fair. We are also hoping to find a new space that can accommodate the growing vision for FOP and aspirationally plan to host our fall shows there. But don’t worry – we will bring the green turf with us.