October 12, 2015
Cristina Grajales and Leon Tovar Open Groundbreaking Joint Gallery in NoMad
We’re thrilled that art dealer Cristina Grajales and Latin American art expert Leon Tovar have opened a joint gallery space in NoMad, not only adding to the burgeoning visual art scene in the neighborhood, but also introducing a new approach to the presentation of art and design. Their 6,000 square foot space will house two individual galleries, as well as a joint exhibition space dedicated to new work.
Grajales is an expert in 20th-century European decorative arts, who seeks new talent across the globe. Leon Tovar is a respected source for Latin American modernist art, primarily 20th century masterworks of geometric abstraction, kineticism, op art and minimalism. Each will show their artists in their individual galleries.
The Third Room, as their joint space is called, will be used for curatorial experiments that cross-pollinate Grajales and Tovar’s artists, disciplines and philosophies. The new director of the Brooklyn Museum, Anne Pasternak, noted that “Christina and Leon are breaking down silos with this collaboration. The intersection of these two visionary dealers could lead to fresh and surprising shows.
Harold Koda, the curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Costume Institute made clear the innovative importance of The Third Room, “The gallery will not only underscore the relationship of all the arts, fine and applied, it will help to articulate the questioning of the relative status of some creative practices over others.”
Currently, the gallery spaces feature an exhibition of the work of the late Columbian sculptor Edgar Negret, titled “Edgar Negret: The Bridge.” Once described by The New York Times as the “Sculptor for the Space Age,” Negret created Modernist riveted steel sculptures that you shouldn’t miss seeing. They are extremely powerful. Also on view is the exhibit “Stefan Bishop & Steven and William Ladd.” Bishop’s work in this exhibit was described by Wallpaper as “especially captivating.”
Head over to Cristina Grajales Gallery and Leon Tovar Gallery and let us know what you think!
Cristina Grajales Gallery
Leon Tovar Gallery
152 West 25th Street, 3rd floor
New York, NY 10001