SoHo According to: Sophie Mörner of Company Gallery
The photographer and gallerist loves ‘The Smoothie Man’, breakfast in a hotel and being ‘half Swedish and half New York’
The photographer and gallerist loves ‘The Smoothie Man’, breakfast in a hotel and being ‘half Swedish and half New York’
Sophie Mörner arrived in New York City in 1998 as a photography student and, after founding and running Capricious magazine, opened her gallery Company in 2015. Initially on the Lower East Side, Company crossed over the Bowery and relocated to Elizabeth Street in the art hub of SoHo six years later. The gallery is known for its roster of contemporary artists including Sylvie Fleury, Troy Montes Michie and Sixten Sandra Österberg, and also represents the estate of Barbara Hammer.
Chris Waywell How would you define the character of your neighbourhood?
Sophie Mörner The Bowery divides the Lower East Side from SoHo and Little Italy. So we’re on the other side now, not really the right side. God, I don’t know, what’s the character? It has so much history. It feels more mature, I would say, than when we started on Eldridge Street. But we’re like, literally five minutes from Tribeca, so it’s all part of this area.
CW And what’s your new(ish) space like?
SM The space we have now is two floors. We have actually three exhibition spaces, which feels much better. And we also have a little speakeasy called Sophie’s Lounge.
You have to love New York, because it’s really hard to live here.
CW What prompted you to move back in 2021?
SM We had already started looking for a new space when Covid hit. All the real estate in New York was freaking out and we went and looked at the space in August 2020 and they had decreased the price by 50%. Then we renovated for a year, because it was like a raw storage space. When I opened Company on Lower East Side there were a lot of galleries there, and that has definitely changed over the years. A lot of galleries moved to Chelsea and Chelsea galleries moved to Tribeca, in this whole, like, switcheroo. Also, Lower East Side has a lot of homelessness and a lot of issues, which have made people not want to walk around certain parts. That definitely plays a role.
CW Has that change been prompted by gentrification?
SM I think in one way. But I think it’s also the nature of New York City. SoHo used to be the prime area and then it became Chelsea. Uptown was the original one. It’s how this city has always evolved. I’ve lived in New York since 1998 so I’ve been here for quite some time and watched this happen.
CW Can you put your finger on why that is part of the character of New York?
SM I don’t know. I think it’s just the way the city is. Rents and things like that. Chelsea got so expensive, with more and more residential houses going up. I think then that Tribeca felt not expensive compared to Chelsea but now it’s really expensive. New York is so much a place where people come and go. People come and have a job, or they study and then they leave, like water washing in and out.
CW What brought you to New York originally?
SM I was studying photography at New York University. I did my undergrad at NYU and stayed. I’m from Sweden originally: I’m half Swedish and half New York.
CW What are your favourite art spaces local to you, or in NYC more generally?
SM I love Performance Space New York, which used to be PS 122. I love the Whitney Museum because they show a lot of young artists. I love some of my peer galleries like Bridget Donahue or 47 Canal or Chapter: they’re all good friends and I love going to shows there. I love Artists Space: I think they do incredible shows. I think that’s a good list.
CW What are some recent memorable shows you’ve seen?
SM I saw the Anne Imhof performance at the Park Avenue Armory. And that was a very memorable experience, because it’s so immersive – there’s nothing like it. I just saw it two days ago. But ‘Edges of Ailey’, the Alvin Ailey show at the Whitney, is the most memorable show I’ve seen recently. Incredible. That’s the one I want on the record! They’re very different shows, but I think that the show at the Whitney is so incredible and inspirational.
CW What about other things near you? Can you recommend some places to eat and drink?
SM Of course. I love Lovely Day: it’s a classic that’s been around for ever. I love Omen Azen on Thompson Street, a Japanese restaurant. The Crosby Street Hotel for breakfast; I love eating breakfast at hotels because it feels like you’re travelling. What else? Café Gitane: it’s been there since I was at NYU, so it’s reminiscent of times when you study in cafés. There’s also an amazing smoothie guy on Mulberry Street that I love. I actually don’t know the name of it, we just call him ‘The Smoothie Man’. He’s the best.
New York is a place where people come and go like water washing in and out.
CW That’s a top local recommendation. What about, bars, clubs, party spaces?
SM I have a two-year-old to party for me right now. There’s Champers on the corner of Crosby Street and Broome, which is nice for cocktails, and Manuela in SoHo: they have great cocktails and food. There used to be all these amazing bars that I would go to, but after Covid, it became a different landscape. I did love Sweet & Vicious [which closed suddenly after 28 years in January 2025]: it had been there for ever. When I had a magazine in 2003, I had my first release at Sweet & Vicious. It was just a kind of dive bar with a backyard.
CW Do you feel like the character of the city was radically changed with Covid?
SM New York makes you so used to change, that’s just the development of the city, how it goes. But a lot of things closed and things adjusted. And also with the political climate right now: it’s so volatile to live under this kind of government, everything is unsure. It’s almost like the city is holding its breath.
CW It’s quite a commitment to stay there for the long haul, isn’t it?
SM Yeah! You have to really love New York to stay, because it’s really hard to live here.
CW Can you tell me about the artist that you’re bringing to Frieze this year?
SM It’s the last year that we’re doing Focus and we’re doing a joint presentation with Champ Lacombe of Bulgarian artist Stefania Batoeva. She’s in her 40s. That doesn’t really mean anything but she’s just starting showing. She’s a painter and a lot of her work is very autobiographical – she’s inspired by subcultures and music and fashion. We’re really excited about showing her and about bringing her to Frieze. I’m also really excited about working with Lucy Chadwick – I love doing collaborations with other galleries.
CW What’s the worst thing about New York?
SM How dirty it is.
CW And the best thing?
SM How dirty it is.
Company and Champ Lacombe are showing a joint presentation (Stand F8) of Stefania Batoeva at Frieze New York 2025.
Further Information
Frieze New York, The Shed, 7 – 11 May, 2025. Tickets are on sale – don’t miss out, buy yours now. Alternatively, become a member to enjoy premier access, exclusive guided tours and more.
Frieze New York is supported by global lead partner Deutsche Bank, continuing its legacy of celebrating artistic excellence on an international scale.
A dedicated online Frieze Viewing Room will open in the week before the fair, offering audiences a first look at the presentations and the opportunity to engage with the fair remotely.
Main image: Company Gallery, Elizabeth St, SoHo, New York City
