The Art of This Century

The Art of This Century. An avant-garde art gallery and exhibition space founded in 1942 by the influential collector Peggy Guggenheim in New York City. Designed by the visionary architect Frederick Kiesler, it became a revolutionary hub for modern art during World War II, showcasing European Surrealism and Abstract art alongside emerging American talent. Its radical presentation and curatorial daring made it a critical catalyst for the development of Abstract Expressionism and the shift of the art world's center from Paris to New York.

History and founding

The gallery was conceived by Peggy Guggenheim upon her return to the United States from war-torn Europe, where she had amassed a formidable collection of modern art. She opened The Art of This Century in October 1942 at 30 West 57th Street, in part to publicly exhibit her collection, which included key works by artists like Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, and Joan Miró. The establishment coincided with the influx of European artists and intellectuals, such as André Breton, Max Ernst, and Fernand Léger, who sought refuge in New York City during the conflict. This convergence created a unique intellectual ferment, with the gallery serving as a vital American platform for the displaced avant-garde of the École de Paris.

Gallery design and exhibitions

The interior, a landmark of modern exhibition design by Frederick Kiesler, was a sensory and interactive environment intended to break from traditional white cube presentation. It was divided into distinct, theatrically lit chambers: the Kinetic Gallery with moving walls, the Surrealist Gallery with curved walls and suspended paintings on strings, and the Daylight Gallery for more conventional hanging. Kiesler's innovative use of ergonomics and multimedia aimed to create a direct, bodily engagement between viewer and artwork. The gallery's program was equally adventurous, hosting landmark shows like the "Exhibition of 31 Women" in 1943 and the seminal "Spring Salon for Young Artists" in 1945, which introduced many unknown painters.

Influence on Abstract Expressionism

The gallery played a decisive role in nurturing the first generation of Abstract Expressionism by providing early exhibition opportunities and creating a dialogue between European modernism and American innovation. Peggy Guggenheim gave crucial early solo shows to artists like Jackson Pollock in 1943, Robert Motherwell in 1944, and William Baziotes, and employed Marcel Duchamp as an advisor. The constant presence of major works by Piet Mondrian, Arshile Gorky, and the automatist techniques of Surrealism provided direct inspiration. Critics such as Clement Greenberg and Harold Rosenberg frequented the space, using it as a laboratory to formulate the theoretical underpinnings of the New York School.

Notable artists and works

Beyond its support for Americans, the gallery was a primary showcase for leading European modernists. Its walls and files featured pivotal pieces including Jackson Pollock's early drip painting Mural, commissioned by Guggenheim, and works by Mark Rothko like The Omen of the Eagle. It exhibited seminal sculptures by Alberto Giacometti and paintings by Paul Klee. The roster also included significant figures like Hans Hofmann, Clyfford Still, David Hare, Richard Pousette-Dart, and Adolph Gottlieb, alongside European masters such as Georges Braque, Henri Matisse, and Kurt Schwitters.

Closure and legacy

Peggy Guggenheim closed The Art of This Century in 1947 when she decided to return to Europe, eventually establishing the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice. The gallery's physical space was shuttered, but its influence was indelible. It had successfully bridged the pre-war innovations of the School of Paris with the burgeoning energy of the New York School, fundamentally altering the trajectory of post-war art. Its legacy is preserved in the collections of major institutions like the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago, and its radical exhibition strategies continue to influence curators and museum designers globally.

Category:Art galleries in Manhattan Category:Defunct art museums and galleries in New York City Category:Modern art museums in the United States