Olney Gleason

Founded in 1989 by the influential dealer Paul Kasmin, the gallery that became known simply as Kasmin developed into one of New York’s most respected contemporary art venues, recognized for its ability to bridge postwar masters with ambitious contemporary voices. In 2025, the gallery entered a new chapter under the name Olney Gleason, led by longtime collaborators Nick Olney and Eric Gleason. While the transition marked the end of an important era in Chelsea’s gallery landscape, it also signaled the continuation of a program deeply committed to artistic dialogue across generations, media, and historical movements.

Throughout its history, the gallery cultivated an exhibition program that moved fluidly between painting, sculpture, photography, and installation. Photography occupied a significant place within this broader vision, particularly through artists whose lens-based practices explored identity, memory, landscape, and cultural transformation. Over the years, the gallery presented works that connected contemporary photographic experimentation with the legacy of twentieth-century avant-garde movements, reinforcing photography’s role as both document and conceptual medium. The program frequently emphasized artists whose photographic practices intersected with sculpture, performance, or narrative installation, creating exhibitions that expanded conventional definitions of the medium.

Kasmin also became known for representing artists and estates whose work carried substantial art historical weight. The gallery’s roster included figures associated with Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, and postwar American art alongside emerging international voices. This cross-generational approach created unexpected visual conversations, allowing historical works to resonate with contemporary concerns. Publications, catalogues, and scholarly collaborations accompanied many exhibitions, reflecting the gallery’s dedication to research and long-term cultural engagement.

With the launch of Olney Gleason, that curatorial philosophy continues in renewed form. The new gallery maintains a focus on artist-centered practice while adapting to a changing contemporary art landscape shaped by younger collectors and evolving institutional priorities. Photography remains integral to this vision, particularly as contemporary artists increasingly combine photographic imagery with digital processes, archival materials, and multimedia installations. Positioned within Chelsea’s vibrant cultural environment, Olney Gleason carries forward the intellectual and experimental spirit that defined Kasmin while opening new possibilities for contemporary art in the decades ahead.