Art is more than a pretty picture. It is a portal into different worlds, a bridge that connects human experiences, and a reflection of the inner and outer worlds of the artists who bring their lives to life. Yet, while art has much to offer American culture, its value and appreciation have declined in recent years. Feeling the impacts of this loss are many New York art galleries, who, after over a decade of business, are closing their doors for good. One such gallery recently announced that it would be closing its doors, the Simone Subal Gallery, which will close later this month.
Opening in 2011, the gallery’s founder, Simone Subal, launched the Simone Subal Gallery in response to the changing New York art scene; specializing in art that explores the body, Simone Subal Gallery has been a respite for art lovers from the fast-paced New York art scene. Known for its innovative art shows from emerging artists, this art gallery has been a space where multiple discourses can blossom and remain dedicated to openly collaborating with different organizations and galleries.
Simone Subal Gallery has been appreciated for providing context for exhibiting conceptual works of art that explore more significant philosophical problems through sustained formal reflection, working with artists such as Julien Bismuth, Baseera Khan, Anna K.E., Florian Meisenberg, and the late Brian O’Doherty. Other artists include Emily Mae Smith, a figurative painter who has attracted attention, having had two solo shows with Simona Subal Gallery before joining the blue-chip galleries Petzel and Perrotin.
However, Simone Subal Gallery has supported other emerging artists moving toward the stage’s front. An artist with sculptures on view in the Whitney Biennial, B. Ingrid Olson, had her first New York gallery show with Simone Subal in 2015. Before their passing in 1997, the famed Austrian painter Kiki Kogelnik was the subject of three exhibitions at the gallery.
Simone Subal Gallery’s current show is a solo exhibition for painter Nova Jiang, which closes the gallery’s book on June 22.
Speaking of their decision to close the gallery, Simone Subal stated, “I personally came to the conclusion that this was the right time to end this chapter of my life, and I always believe it’s best to leave a party when it’s in full swing… That’s what I’m doing now, leaving when I know I’ve had the best time and no regrets.”
Subal’s announcement occurs when many New York commercial art spaces fade into the background. Recently, Tribeca’s David Lewis Gallery announced that it would permanently close its doors in July, and this past March, Helena Anrather, a neighbor of Simone Subal Gallery, shuttered its doors.
Unfortunately, closures are not new to 2024, with Foxy Production, Queer Thoughts, and JTT closing last year, all of which were dedicated to emerging artists and have been operating for more than a decade.
In response to this trend of gallery closures, Subal stated, “Like many others, I’ve seen the market wax and wane over the past decade or so. I’m proud that I was able to stay true to my original vision. Thanks to the strong support for the gallery’s artists, we’ve been able to accomplish so many of our goals.”
