Island Gallery

Island Gallery, formerly known as Rubber Factory, is a contemporary art space located on the Bowery in Downtown New York. The gallery is rooted in a commitment to showcasing innovative and experimental contemporary photography while fostering a deeper understanding of the photographic process. Founded by Mike Tan, the original name—Rubber Factory—paid homage to his father’s first business, reflecting a personal lineage of hard work and reinvention that continues to inform the gallery’s evolving mission.

As the gallery transitioned into Island 83, its core values remained intact while expanding its curatorial vision. The focus remains on contemporary photographic practices, yet Island now embraces a broader range of interdisciplinary approaches. Exhibitions at the gallery often highlight the nuanced relationships between image, material, and meaning, exploring how photography intersects with installation, video, and conceptual art.

One of the guiding questions behind Island’s programming is how visual literacy can be cultivated in a time when images are both ubiquitous and increasingly abstract. The gallery not only presents compelling artwork but also invites viewers into the mechanisms of image-making, encouraging transparency around process and intent. In doing so, it positions itself as a site for both artistic experimentation and critical engagement.

Through thoughtfully curated exhibitions and public programming, Island aims to provide a platform for emerging and mid-career artists who are pushing the boundaries of their medium. Its intimate space on the Bowery serves as a catalyst for dialogue, reflection, and the reconsideration of photography’s role in contemporary art and culture. Whether through new voices or fresh iterations of established practices, Island continues to be a vital player in the New York art landscape, evolving with the creative pulse of the city it calls home.