Metro Pictures, founded by Janelle Reiring and Helene Winer in 1980, exemplified a unique approach to art galleries over four decades, focusing on dedication to artists and integrity. Despite the evolving landscape of the art world, they maintained a single location in New York, showcasing influential artists from the Pictures Generation group. The gallery’s low-focus on profit margins compared to other galleries enabled a supportive community for artists. With its initial modest investment, Metro Pictures became a pivotal creative space that significantly impacted the art scene while navigating drastic changes within the industry.
"Everybody is trying to create multiple outposts, and they just stayed in New York and made it work. It's kind of miraculous. There's some sense to it, and also some magic."
"They were integrity-driven, they were driven by their artists, they were driven by their programme, and they didn't really pay a lot of attention to the thing that galleries pay attention to right now, which is basically the bottom line."
"The story of how the art world has changed in the 40-some years that we were open is more interesting than the gallery per se."
"I trusted them completely. I think women art dealers are held to a higher standard."
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