One reason why 2020 is so special for me is the celebration of the gallery’s 15th year. (I am cheating a bit as we actually opened on September 22, 2004, but who’s counting).
In 2004 I opened the gallery in a modest space on the upper floor of a Chelsea gallery building. We started with a program that exclusively featured photography. I knew that medium best and people associated me with it.
The following year, I added collage and drawing, which are passions of mine. Over the next few years, paper, became the medium that brought it all together. I love paper...what artists do on it and what they do with it.
After two other locations, I set root at 59 Orchard Street in 2014. We are firmly settled here and have expanded the program to include so much more.
I have chosen to celebrate our 15 years, in two parts. Part 1 is a look back at 15 artists that we have worked with. In Part 2, I have selected 15 artists that I have never worked with before. Both exhibitions will be on view.
Looking Back (Part 1) is exactly that. A walk-through history, gems from 15 different exhibitions. Our Earthly Figures (Part 2) takes another direction from Looking Back (Part I). It is a look forward with 15 female artists from around the world, whose subject is narrowed into their interpretation of the female body. With each artist, comes a different narrative, experience, and cultural background that represents their practice and aesthetic.
We feel honored to have such a remarkable group of women from countries and cities such as Poland, Lebanon, Madrid, Pakistan, Paris and New York, participating in Our Earthly Figures. The media is mixed from photography to painting and everything in between.
This is a celebration of what we have accomplished and the direction we are charting to move toward. In a changing world, it’s an exciting time to address what’s happening now, with an eye on where we came from.
Looking Back (Part 1) and Our Earthly Figures (Part 2) is on view through March 15th 2020. Foley Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 – 5:30pm and Sunday from 12-5pm. To request images; please contact the gallery at hello@foleygallery.com.