DOWNTOWN GALLERIES, BECAUSE IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT CHELSEA
Sure, New Yorkers all love visiting uptown galleries and strolling the streets of Chelsea, but SoHo and its downtown counterparts remain beloved for their art institutions and avant-garde roots—in the ’60s, Warhol, Basquiat, and the composer Philip Glass lived and worked in the neighborhood. Below, our edit of downtown galleries with an array of notable and emerging artists.
Along the Bowery, you can’t miss the striking seven-story museum, designed by Tokyo firm Sejima + Nishizawa. This season, the space’s buzzy Triennial, Songs for Sabotage, features socially-charged works by Janiva Ellis and South African-based artist Keynan Chemu No’ok. Come summer, the lineup will lean on solo exhibitions by artists Hiwa K, Aaron Fowler, and a collaboration between The Black School x Kameelah Janan Rasheed. Don’t leave without visiting the well-curated gift shop.
235 Bowery, New York, NY 10002; T. (212) 219-1222
Bold, visionary, and always three steps ahead, this Wooster Street institution from its legendary founder Jeffrey Deitch, has long presented ambitious, large-scale installations and performances by luminaries like Yoko Ono and Chris Johanson. Deitch originally opened his Wooster Street project and event space in 1996, and through 2010 showcased a glittering array of contemporary and modern art. The good news is that Deitch Projects has again taken up residency at the Wooster Street location proving once more its status as a must-visit destination for those seeking left-of-center cultural experiences. Recently, the space has exhibited work by art punk legend, the late Alan Vega, and American painter Kenny Scharf, among others. This May through June 30, People: Figurative Sculpture takes a look at the form.
18 Wooster St, New York, NY 10013: T. (212) 343-7300
Hailing from sunny California, this unassuming, two-room gallery on Grand Street (founded in 2006 by Jose Freire) packs a visual punch with cutting-edge installations from the likes of Ross Knight and photography from downtown artist Ryan McGinley whose I’ll be Your Mirror show launches in late summer. For a primer, check out LA-based artist Parker Ito’s solo show, p, running through June 16.
83 Grand St, New York, NY 10013; T. (212) 279-9219
Hugging the Lower East Side and Nolita, The Hole, founded by Deitch Projects alumna Kathy Grayson, plucks emerging contemporary pieces to line her bright white walls. Known to include the all-star likes of Vanessa Prager, and Holton Rower. From May, London-based Matthew Stone’s colorful paintings and sculptures take center stage through June 24.
312 Bowery, New York, NY 10012; T. (212) 466-1100
Words Kate Donnelly
Photography courtesy Deitch Projects; Kenny Scharf: Inner and Outer Space, 2017
