Sonnabend Gallery in SoHo NYC

The Sonnabend Gallery is an acclaimed art gallery located in Soho that’s known for showcasing contemporary American and European artists from the ‘60s and ‘70s. It first opened in Paris in 1962 and was influential in helping make 1960s American art famous in Europe, with a focus on American Pop Art. Sonnabend Gallery opened its first location in New York City in 1970 on Madison Avenue, but the following year relocated to West Broadway in Soho, where it became a primary protagonist that helped Soho become an epicenter in the international art world. 

Yet not only did Sonnabend Gallery work to make American art famous in Europe, but it also worked the other way as well, as they were instrumental in making 1970s European art famous in the United States. Their focus for ‘70s European art was on Arte Povera and types of conceptual art. The gallery also presented American minimalist and abstract art of the 1970s, and then in 1986 introduced the so-called show called “Neo-Geo,” which introduced the world to artist Jeff Koons, among others. 

And while in NYC, don’t forget to check out the Sonnabend Collection that was created by Ileana Sonnabend, Michael Sonnabend, and their adopted son Antonia Homem. While she passed away in 2007, her collection remains one of the largest private holdings of contemporary and modern art in the world. Remai Modern has this exhibit on display, and it’s composed of 100 works from 67 different artists that span seventy years of art. It features legendary artists such as Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, and Roy Lichtenstein. 

Upcoming and Past Exhibits

• you can find the current exhibitions here on their website

Past exhibits displayed by the Sonnabend Gallery include Gilbert Zorio, Robert Feintuch, Carlito Carvalhosa’s Possibility Matters, Robert Morris, Grazia Toderi, and Rona Pondick among many others. Unfortunately, the Sonnabend Gallery does not have any current or upcoming exhibits planned, so be sure to give them a call or check out their website before visiting.

What can you do after visiting Sonnabend Gallery?

If you want to visit more art galleries, I recommend the Brooke Alexander Gallery, Eden Gallery, LIK Fine Art Soho or Jeffrey Deitch. If not, you can go to one of the many great restaurants in SoHo. Two of my favorites are Little Prince, Antique Garage and The Dutch, both a few blocks away.