SoHo, short for "South of Houston Street," is an iconic art district in Manhattan, New York. One of its most famous addresses is 95 Spring St, a building that has housed numerous influential galleries.
In the 1960s and 1970s, SoHo was a haven for artists fleeing the high rents of Midtown. The neighborhood, with its cast-iron architecture, became the cradle of the Loft Movement, which transformed industrial spaces into vast, open studios and galleries. This movement dramatically shaped the contemporary art scene.
Leo Castelli, a legend among art dealers, was one of the first to recognize SoHo's potential. His gallery at 420 West Broadway showcased avant-garde artists like Jasper Johns and Roy Lichtenstein, turning SoHo into an art world epicenter.
The Paula Cooper Gallery, which opened at 96 Prince Street in 1968, was the first gallery to set up shop in SoHo. Paula Cooper exhibited minimalist and conceptual artists, including Donald Judd and Sol LeWitt, fostering a community of like-minded creatives.
Meanwhile, Mary Boone opened her gallery at 417 West Broadway in 1977, propelling the careers of artists like Julian Schnabel and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Boone's edgy exhibitions cemented SoHo's reputation as a cutting-edge art district.
A hidden gem is the Artists Space, established in 1972 at 155 Wooster Street. This non-profit gallery provided emerging artists with a platform to showcase their work, including early exhibitions by Laurie Anderson and Cindy Sherman.
In the 1980s and 1990s, SoHo's popularity soared, attracting fashion boutiques, restaurants, and commercial galleries. This gentrification, however, led to higher rents, pushing many artists and galleries to the Lower East Side and Chelsea.
Despite these changes, SoHo's cultural impact remains significant. The district's legacy continues through institutions like the New Museum and the Drawing Center, which uphold the spirit of artistic innovation.
Trivia: Did you know that Andy Warhol once owned a building at 860 Broadway in SoHo? He bought it in 1974 and transformed it into a studio and office space.
SoHo's art scene has been immortalized in literature and film. Jay McInerney's novel "Bright Lights, Big City" captures the neighborhood's vibrant atmosphere in the 1980s. The district also features in movies like "Basquiat" and "Pollock".
In essence, SoHo's galleries at 95 Spring St and beyond have left an indelible mark on the art world, shaping cultural trends and launching countless artistic careers.