The 125-year-old American Academy of Arts and Letters is launching a 10,000 sq. ft gallery devoted to contemporary art at its headquarters next door to the Hispanic Society Museum & Library in Upper Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighbourhood. The new space is being programmed by chief curator Jenny Jaskey in consultation with a star-studded committee of academy members that includes Ann Hamilton, Joan Jonas, Charles Gaines, Mel Chin and Amy Sillman.
“Conceptual art, photography, film, performance, installation and sound art are all represented," Jaskey said in a statement. "Working as a curator among artists to develop the programme, we were mindful of the many ways of being an artist and how we could support art-making across diverse media.”
The space opens on 26 September with a solo show devoted to the pioneering Conceptual artist Christine Kozlov (1945-2005) and a newly commissioned sound installation by the composer Raven Chacon. In October, the choreographer Jonathan González will debut a new durational performance in the academy’s library and member rooms.
“We want to be a place that honours and creates the conditions to support the next generation of artists and to transform what this arts institution of architects and writers, of visual artists and musicians, can contribute to the larger cultural conversation,” Hamilton said.