With New Tribeca Outpost, Gratin Gallery Doubles Down on Young Artists

"Starting May 15, “Blinds and Shutters,” the debut U.S. solo show by rising Spanish sculptor Mónica Mays, will greet guests at the raw Tribeca gallery that Gratin just leased for 10 years. Although the space is barely bigger than Gratin's current Chinatown home, Abillama plans to make Mays the 12th artist on its growing roster. “Hopefully, I mean, depending on how I do my job,” he told me over the phone, “because the sculptures are still being made as we speak.”"

"No. 15 White Street will be Gratin's third location since it first opened at 76 Avenue B in 2022. Gratin only stopped renting that space earlier this year—even though it took over the former Grand Street home of storied gallery 47 Canal in 2024. (That autumn, Gratin let artist Lorenzo Amos use 76 Avenue B to prepare a solo show with the gallery.) The 291 Grand Street address offered a similarly sleek contemporary art oasis amid an equally bustling, changing neighborhood, its storefront reliably inhabited by the likes of James Cohan and Alexandre Gallery."

"Abillama told me that Gratin is mainly moving to Tribeca in order to meet art buyers where they are. Oftentimes, when he tells clients to make the 15-minute stroll from there to Chinatown, they drag their feet. Now, Gratin's new spot sits next to Luhring Augustine, on the same block as Ortuzar Projects, in the 45-year home of Soho Photo Gallery. “The location is perfect,” Abillama said. “You have a great, high ceiling.”"

"Meanwhile, he had to hire a crane to get Brice Guilbert 's paintings into Gratin's Chinatown gallery earlier this year. “Someone told me, '"

Gratin founder Talal Abillama continues growing his New York gallery despite challenging market conditions. The gallery leased a raw Tribeca space for ten years and will open “Blinds and Shutters,” the debut U.S. solo show by Spanish sculptor Mónica Mays on May 15. The new Tribeca location is only slightly larger than the Chinatown space, yet Abillama plans to add Mays as the 12th artist on the roster. Gratin has moved through multiple addresses since opening in 2022, including a former 47 Canal space. The Tribeca move aims to meet art buyers where they are, with the gallery positioned near major galleries and a high-ceiling interior.

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