ART BEAT: 6 FABULOUS ART FOUNDATIONS in New York City

The Brant Foundation, Basquiat exhibit (photo: Tom Powell Imaging; Courtesy The Brant Foundation)

By Jacquelin Carnegie

The Brant Foundation

In New York City, there are many wonderful places to see incredible art. While you may be familiar with all the great museums, there are also several, really special art foundations you might not have heard about, where the spaces they’re housed in are often as interesting as the art: 

Downtown
The Brant Foundation
421 East 6th St, (btw 1st Ave - Ave A); brantfoundation.org
(Fee or Free Admission depending on exhibit)

Successful businessman and philanthropist Peter Brant has many eclectic interests, but his main passion is contemporary art. He’s been an avid collector since his college days when his first acquisitions included two Andy Warhols and a Franz Kline! Lucky for us, Brant has put his impressive collection on display, first in Greenwich, Connecticut and now in a stunning new location in New York City. The building, a former ConEd substation, has been redesigned as an exhibit space which is as knockout as the artwork on display. [Enjoy a virtual tour of Brant’s extensive Jean-Michel Basquiat collection.] 

Judd Foundation
101 Spring St, www.juddfoundation.org; Tel: 212/219-2747
(Admission Fee; Guided tours only, book in advance) 

Judd bedroom, Dan Flavin light sculpture
(photo: James Ewing; Courtesy Judd Foundation)

You don’t have to be a fan of Donald Judd’s artwork to appreciate a visit to his former home and studio in Manhattan's SoHo district. First, the beautifully-restored, 19th-century, cast-iron building is one of the few remaining in the neighborhood. Next, Judd designed and built many of the everyday items in the home such as dining tables, chairs, desks, etc. And, the space is filled with works by some of Judd’s favorite artists such as Dan Flavin and Frank Stella. Judd bought the building in 1968; a visit provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of a successful, modern artist.

Resnick-Passlof Foundation

The Milton Resnick & Pat Passlof Foundation
87 Eldridge St; resnickpasslof.org; Tel: 646/559-2513
(Open: Thurs-Sat, 11am-6pm; Free Admission; Closed in Aug.)

Milton Resnick and Pat Passlof were Abstract Expressionist painters who lived and worked on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in a building that was once a synagogue. Since their passing, the space has been renovated into a showplace for their signature paintings as well as for exhibits of work by other Abstract Expressionist artists. When not in the midst of COVID, the Foundation also presents lectures, readings, and musical programs in this magnificent space.

Chelsea
The FLAG Art Foundation
545 West 25th St, 9th Fl, (btw 10th-11th Ave); http://flagartfoundation.org; Tel: 212/206-0220 (Open: Wed-Sat, 11am-5pm; Free Admission)

Nicolas Party: Pastel, FLAG 
(photo: Steven Probert)

Financier, philanthropist, collector, and art patron Glenn Fuhrman launched The FLAG Art Foundation as a non-profit, exhibit space to encourage the appreciation of contemporary art. The marvelous, imaginative exhibits are meant to attract a diverse audience. FLAG generally presents four to six exhibits a year of both established and emerging artists. The Foundation also invites a creative group of individuals—artists, athletes, writers, historians, fashion designers, museum directors--to guest curate these fab exhibits.

Hill Art Foundation
239 Tenth Ave, at 24th St, 3rd Fl, https://hillartfoundation.org
(Open: Wed-Sat, 11am-5pm; Free Admission)

Hill Art Foundation

For forty years, former financier J. Tomilson Hill and his wife have been passionate art collectors. The Hill Art Foundation is a lovely way for them to share their collection with the public: allowing visitors to see how they think about art as well as how they juxtapose and display pieces. While the Foundation reflects the Hills’ personal taste, it’s also about sharing—encouraging the viewer to reflect on and engage with the pieces to find new interpretations of the works on view. The galley space itself is stunning, on the 3rd & 4th floors of the Getty building designed by famed architect Peter Marino.

Brooklyn
Faurschou New York
148 Green St, Greenpoint, Brooklyn; faurschou.com
(Open: Wed-Sun, 12-6pm; Free Admission; Book time-slot online in advance)

Ai WeiWei "Two Figures"
(photo: Ed Gumuchian; Courtesy Faurschou Foundation)

Danish art dealer-turned-philanthropist Jens Faurschou has converted an industrial warehouse in Greenpoint, Brooklyn into a magnificent exhibition space. The Foundation’s mission is to champion contemporary artists and foster East-West cultural exchanges, engaging Western audiences with important ideas from Asia. What’s especially striking about Faurschou’s collection is the size of the works: huge installations (some even room-sized) and many with political themes. Headquartered in Copenhagen with another exhibit space in Beijing, the goal for Faurschou New York is curating exhibitions that make you think.

Editor’s Note: Please keep in mind that during COVID, and for the foreseeable future, many places are operating on a reduced schedule & require reservations &/or tickets purchased in advance for a particular day/time-slot. Proof of vaccination & masks may be required.