Since its inception in 1991, Sean Kelly Gallery has been internationally regarded for its diverse, intellectually driven program and a highly regarded roster of artists. The gallery has garnered international attention for its high caliber exhibition program and collaboration with many of the most significant cultural institutions around the world.
The gallery opened its first public space opened at 43 Mercer Street. During these formative years, it established a reputation for diverse, intellectually driven, unconventional exhibitions. The original list of artists represented; Marina Abramović, James Casebere, Callum Innes, Joseph Kosuth and Julião Sarmento, all of whom are still with the gallery today, exemplified the Gallery’s commitment to presenting important and challenging contemporary art.
In 2001, Sean Kelly moved to a converted 7,000 square-foot industrial space on 29th Street in the Chelsea gallery district. The new spacious location enabled the Gallery to mount increasingly ambitious, museum-quality exhibitions to great critical acclaim. The Gallery's roster of artists expanded to include Iran do Espírito Santo, Antony Gormley, Rebecca Horn and Frank Thiel. In the ensuing years, the Gallery undertook representation Leandro Erlich, Laurent Grasso, Johan Grimonprez, Peter Liversidge, Anthony McCall, Alec Soth and Kehinde Wiley.
In October 2012, Sean Kelly opened a new 22,000 square foot space at 475 Tenth Avenue in an historic 1914 building. With the gallery’s expansion into the new space, Sean Kelly added internationally acclaimed artists to its roster; David Claerbout, José Dávila, Candida Höfer, Ilse D’Hollander, Hugo McCloud, Mariko Mori, Liu Wei, James White and Sun Xun.
Sean Kelly has continued to expand its program to include a new generation of exceptional contemporary artists adding Julian Charrière, Landon Metz, Sam Moyer, Shahzia Sikander and Janaina Tschäpe in the past few years.
