Ki Smith Gallery

Ki Smith Gallery is an art gallery in the Lower East Side of New York City.^[1] Founded in 2018 (6 years ago) (2018) by Ki Smith the gallery focuses on long lasting relationships with New York based artists, "drawing inspiration from dealers of the 1970s-like Richard Bellamy or Paula Cooper-who were often the same age or not much older than the artists they represented."^[2][3][4]

Ki Smith at Ki Smith Gallery (197 E 4th St)

History

Ki Smith opened Ki Smith Gallery in 2018 with an inaugural event in collaboration with Ryan Bock titled the Bock Brick Benefit. Many of the original artists working with Ki Smith Gallery were also associated with Smith’s previous gallery and underground nightclub (Apostrophe NYC) which he ran from 2012 to 2018.^[5] The gallery was best known for its guerilla art exhibitions at the Whitney Museum and MoMA PS1.^[6]

Ki Smith Gallery

Founder	Ki Smith
Headquarters	New York City, US
Website	www.kismithgallery.com

In 2019, Smith opened Ki Smith Gallery's first brick and mortar location in an empty retail space at 712 W 125th Street in Harlem which was donated by David and Pernilla Avital of MTP Invest, for two years where they showcased their represented artists and developed a publication program.^[7][3] Later in 2019, Ki Smith enlisted the rights coordinator of MoMA's publication department, Naomi Falk (also of Archway Editions)^[8] to help cofound Ki Smith Gallery's editorial department. Contributing writers for publications include Chris Molnar and Bob Holman.^[4][9] In 2020, the Gallery moved downtown to open 197 East 4th Street, and in 2021 expanded, creating a second location at 311 E 3rd Street.^[10][5] In 2021 they collaborated with the Arte Laguna Prize as part of their "Artist in Gallery" special prize.^[11] In 2022, the Gallery expanded again to the Lower East Side at 170 Forsyth Street where it continues to build its program.

In August of 2023, Ki Smith Gallery held its first annual juried exhibition, allowing artists from all over the world to submit their work for consideration to be included in a group exhibition spanning both floors of the gallery.^[12] Applications for its second annual juried exhibition closed on May 20th, 2024 and the exhibiting artists will be selected shortly.^[13]

Artists

The gallery has exhibited artists including:

• Ryan Bock^[14][15][16]
• James Rubio^[17][18]
• Caslon Bevington^[14][15][19]
• Charlie Hudson^[20][14][15]
• Bruno Smith^[14][15][21]
• James Reyes^[14][15]
• Luke Ivy Price^[22][23]
• Andy Warhol^[24][25]
• The Love Child^[14][15]
• David Burnett^[26]
• Jill Freedman^[27]
• Angelica Yudasto^[28]
• Sono Kuwayama^[29][30][31]
• Kiyomi Quinn Taylor^[32]
• Ari Marcopoulos^[26]
• Jonas Mekas^[33]
• Michael Stipe^[34]
• Jorge Luis Rodríguez^[35][36]
• Marcos Dimas^[35][36]
• Elsie Deliz^[35][36]

Performances at Ki Smith Gallery

At their current space on Forsyth Street, Ki Smith Gallery has a stage with a full PA and backline where they regularly host performances.^[37] Acts such as musicians, playwrights, poets, filmmakers, and more have shown their work in the intimate lower-level performance space.^[37]

References

1. "Ki Smith Gallery". Artforum. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
2. "Good Company: Ki Smith Supports Emerging Artists and Causes". Barron's. February 14, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
3. "Q&A With Ki Smith: New Gallery, Reflections 2 by Sei Smith and Value of Experimentation". Artsphoria. February 19, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
4. "BASE 12: Don't Call It a Comeback at Ki Smith Gallery Harlem". GothamToGo. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
5. "A new look — and a second location — for Ki Smith Gallery". EV Grieve. July 2, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
6. Sisley, Dominique (March 23, 2016). "The art duo who broke into a museum to show their work". Dazed. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
7. "Ki Smith Gallery". Retrieved January 14, 2022.
8. "Archway Editions". Retrieved January 13, 2022.
9. "Luke Ivy Price" (PDF). Retrieved January 15, 2022.
10. "Ki Smith returns home, and debuts Ki Smith Gallery on 4th Street". EV Grieve. September 11, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
11. "Ki Smith Gallery". Retrieved January 14, 2022.
12. "Liquidity". Ki Smith Gallery. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
13. "Apply". Ki Smith Gallery. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
14. "Little Big Show". Mana Contemporary. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
15. afinelyne (2020-03-07). "BASE 12: Don't Call It a Comeback at Ki Smith Gallery Harlem". GothamToGo. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
16. "Nightmare Narratives: Ryan Bock Interviewed by Naomi Falk". Bomb Magazine. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
17. "JAMES RUBIO". Ki Smith Gallery. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
18. "James Rubio: Ugly Paintings". artguide.artforum.com. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
19. "Caslon Bevington Archives". Nighthawknyc.com. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
20. afinelyne (2021-04-10). "Charlie Hudson: Points of Distraction, a two-part exhibition, at Ki Smith Gallery, East Village". GothamToGo. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
21. "Bruno Smith | Ki Smith Gallery". VOLTA Art Fairs. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
22. "Luke Ivy Price – Greenhouse Auctions". Retrieved 2022-04-08.
23. "Three exhibitions to see in New York this weekend". The Art Newspaper - International art news and events. 2020-10-16. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
24. "Andy Warhol Screen Tests". Ki Smith Gallery. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
25. "At Ki Smith Gallery, Warhol's Screen Tests Recall a Long-Ago Downtown Scene | The Lo-Down : News from the Lower East Side". www.thelodownny.com. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
26. "Ki Smith Artists List". Retrieved January 13, 2022.
27. "Jill Freedman: A Love Poem For New York". Juxtapoz. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
28. Serfozo, Alissa Lopez (2021-09-28). "Indonesian-Peruvian Artist Angelica Yudasto On Crafting Ethereal Tapestries". Latina. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
29. Metropolitan, The (2021-10-19). "Exhibition | Chiasmus by Sono Kuwayama · The Metropolitan". The Metropolitan. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
30. "Sono Kuwayama Debuts Solo Exhibition 'Ma' at Ki Smith Gallery". HYPEBEAST. 2020-01-25. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
31. Morgan, Robert. "Rakuko Naito & Sono Kuwayama". The Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
32. afinelyne (2022-01-05). "Kiyomi Quinn Taylor: Half Life Opens at Ki Smith Gallery in the East Village". GothamToGo. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
33. "To Jonas with Love". Artforum. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
34. To Jonas With Love New York Art Beat.
35. "Rutas de Nuestros Caminos". Ki Smith Gallery. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
36. afinelyne (2024-03-22). "'Rutas de Nuestros Caminos. Routes of Our Paths' to Open at Ki Smith Gallery". GothamToGo. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
37. "Events". Ki Smith Gallery. Retrieved 2024-05-23.

External links

• Official website
• Artforum guide to Ki Smith Gallery

40°43′27″N 73°59′03″W / 40.72415°N 73.98408°W / 40.72415; -73.98408