Salmagundi Art Club

The Salmagundi Art Club, founded in 1871, is a historic nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting artists and advancing the practice of fine art in all its forms. Located in a landmark brownstone in Greenwich Village, New York, the Club has long served as a gathering place for painters, sculptors, illustrators, and creative practitioners, fostering artistic dialogue and community while bridging the traditions of American art with contemporary practice. Over its 150-year history, Salmagundi has counted among its members some of the most iconic figures in art, including Thomas Moran, William Merritt Chase, Childe Hassam, Norman Rockwell, and many others, ensuring a legacy of excellence and innovation.

Photography holds an increasingly important place within the Club’s programming and collection, complementing its historic focus on painting and sculpture. The medium is featured in exhibitions alongside other disciplines, reflecting its relevance to both contemporary practice and the documentation of cultural history. Salmagundi’s photographic holdings include works by both members and notable contemporary photographers, spanning portraiture, narrative, and experimental approaches. These images are often integrated into exhibitions that explore the evolution of visual art in New York and beyond, demonstrating photography’s ability to capture both personal expression and broader social currents.

The Club maintains a permanent collection of over 1,500 works, built through member donations and purchase awards, which spans the entirety of its history. This collection includes significant photographic works that document both the artists and the times in which they worked. Exhibitions of the permanent collection, alongside current works by living members, are open to the public year-round, offering a rare opportunity to experience the depth of American artistic achievement. Salmagundi also supports emerging artists through junior memberships and scholarships, providing a platform for new voices in photography and other media.

Beyond exhibitions, the Club hosts lectures, workshops, demonstrations, and special programs that integrate photography into broader conversations about art, technique, and history. By combining a historic legacy with contemporary engagement, the Salmagundi Art Club ensures that photography remains an essential part of its mission to celebrate and advance the visual arts for generations to come.