The renowned Tilton Gallery in New York has announced that it will permanently close following its final exhibition, marking the end of an era for one of the art world's most respected galleries. The gallery's last show will feature works by late abstract painter Ruth Vollmer, running from September 30 to November 15, after which the gallery will vacate its longtime Upper East Side location at 8 East 76th Street.
Connie Rogers Tilton, the widow of gallery founder Jack Tilton, made the announcement in an official press release. "This will be the gallery's final formal exhibition," she stated. "After eight meaningful years continuing the gallery without Jack, it is time to pursue my own projects in a more private setting and to reformulate my role in the art world whether through private sales or research projects."
The closure comes amid a wave of high-profile gallery shutdowns that have hit the art world this year. Other notable closures include Blum Gallery, Clearing, Venus Over Manhattan, and LA Louver, which announced its closure just last week after operating for 50 years. This trend has raised concerns about the changing dynamics of the contemporary art market.
Tilton Gallery was originally founded in 1983 by Jack Tilton, who passed away in 2017. Before establishing his own gallery, Tilton had worked for the legendary Betty Parsons from 1976 until her death in 1982. Interestingly, Ruth Vollmer, the artist featured in the gallery's final exhibition, had previously shown with Parsons, and Tilton Gallery began representing her estate when it first opened.
The gallery's journey through New York's art scene reflects the changing geography of the city's gallery district. Jack Tilton initially opened in Betty Parsons' former space on West 57th Street before relocating to SoHo in the 1990s during that neighborhood's gallery boom. In 2005, the gallery moved to its current Upper East Side location, establishing itself in the more traditional gallery neighborhood.
Throughout its four-decade history, Tilton Gallery earned a reputation for having an exceptional eye for emerging talent and helping to launch the careers of artists who would later achieve international recognition. The gallery's roster over the years included some of the most significant names in contemporary art, including Marlene Dumas, Nicole Eisenman, Francis Alÿs, Glenn Ligon, Kiki Smith, John Outterbridge, Ed Clark, David Hammons, and Kennedy Yanko.
Jack Tilton was also instrumental in introducing important Chinese artists to American audiences during the 1990s, showcasing works by Huang Yong Ping and Zhang Peili at a time when Chinese contemporary art was just beginning to gain international attention. This forward-thinking approach to global art markets was characteristic of Tilton's vision and expertise.
Following Jack Tilton's death in 2017, the gallery organized a tribute exhibition in March 2018 titled "In Tribute to Jack Tilton: A Selection from 35 Years." This comprehensive show featured works by many of the artists who had defined the gallery's legacy, including Abraham Cruzvillegas, Suzan Frecon, Lyle Ashton Harris, David Lynch, Richard Nonas, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Fred Tomaselli, Richard Tuttle, and Carrie Mae Weems.
Under Connie Rogers Tilton's leadership since 2017, the gallery continued to maintain its reputation for quality programming and artist development. The current roster includes contemporary artists such as Tomashi Jackson, Texas Isaiah, Brenna Youngblood, Noah Purifoy, and February James. The gallery remained active in major art fairs, participating in Frieze Los Angeles this past February and Art Basel Miami Beach in December.
In a 2019 interview ahead of the gallery's participation in the Independent art fair, Rogers Tilton had expressed her commitment to balancing the gallery's historical legacy with contemporary vision. "Of course, we want to honor and continue Jack's legacy, but part of what he and the gallery have always been about is looking at the present and looking to the future," she said. "So, although I feel it important to occasionally do historical shows and I am very proud of our history, the gallery continues to look into the future."
In her closing statement, Rogers Tilton expressed gratitude for the relationships built over the gallery's long history. "I am incredibly grateful for the support, friendship and enthusiasm of gallery artists, staff, collectors, museums and fellow dealers during these years and I hope to continue to maintain these relationships into the future," she said. The closure marks the end of a significant chapter in New York's art scene, as another institution that helped shape contemporary art discourse prepares to close its doors permanently.
