New York gallery Janet Borden Inc. turned 30 this year. The Eye of Photography is happy to present a selection of the best images exhibited at this venue and to give room for its owner to tell her story and express her gratitude.
On November 3, 1987, my assistant Matt Whitworth sat in the car while I went into the lawyers’ office to sign the incorporation papers. The next day, the gallery was up and running, at 560 Broadway for 28 years. Last year, the gallery moved to Dumbo, which is a wonderfully new and fresh location.
During these thirty years, Janet Borden, Inc. has been promoting and championing photography. Neil Winokur was the gallery’s first artist, before there was a gallery, as were Jim Dow, John Pfahl, Ray Mortenson and Tina Barney. We showed wonderful and crazy installations by Sandy Skoglund, and a hand-picked exhibition of Weegee prints, selected with his girlfriend Wilma Wilcox. That woman liked cake, so every time I went to her apartment—the one she shared with Weegee—we would sit down for tea and cake.
After Castelli Graphics closed, we were lucky enough to exhibit some of the artists who had been there, such as Lewis Baltz, and the genius Robert Cumming, who we still champion and show.
The first time I met Larry Sultan, it was like meeting a long-lost brother. Every time he had a show, he bought new shirts, and then worried about which one to wear. He knew his photographs were great, but worried about his sartorial choices.
Then there was the day Lee Friedlander called to ask if he could show his new Desert Seen photographs with us. Um, yes. That initiated a 17-year history of representing his work in New York.
When Jan Groover moved from New York to France, we started representing her work. It is bittersweet to represent deceased artists, but I believe she remains the best still life artist since Morandi.
And we love being Martin Parr’s New York Gallery for many many reasons.
We’ve loved all of the collectors (well, most of them) and all of the curators, and consultants, our fellow galleries, and especially all the artists. It’s always about and for the artists.
Thanks to everyone!
Janet Borden
Janet Borden, Inc. is a contemporary art gallery located in New York City. The gallery specializes in contemporary photography, representing some of the major photographic artists of this era, including Robert H. Cumming, Jan Groover, Martin Parr, and John Pfahl. Janet Borden, Inc. opened its doors in 1988. The gallery was located in SoHo, at 560 Broadway, Suite #601, but as of September 2016, relocated at 91 Water Street in Brooklyn.
Janet Borden Inc.
91 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
USA
