Barneys New York's Former Home Becomes Center for Art and Culture

660 Madison Avenue will be an epicenter of year-round activities for galleries, museums, artists, and collectors.

Art House, the world’s first fine art hub of its kind, will open its doors in November 2021 at 660 Madison Avenue, the former flagship location of Barneys New York. Art House is envisioned by Co-Founders Michael Plummer, Jeff Rabin, and Geoff Fox, the team who previously collaborated to bring TEFAF to New York in what was a game-changing moment in what an art fair could be. Boasting an architectural refresh by Kulapat Yantrasast and the team of WHY Architecture, Art House provides fresh solutions to the critical needs of a new era in the art world.

Life-long New Yorkers, Plummer and Rabin have a deep understanding of the role that art and culture play in the life of the city and the livelihoods of the art community, which was key to the development of the Art House concept.

To inaugurate its New York space, Art House will launch its flagship event concept, Art House New York Fall in November. Opening on November 4, 2021, this unique event will present 60 exhibitors within dedicated sections situated over five floors of the building, including the fabled former Barneys New York windows on Madison Avenue, 60th and 61st Streets. This will be followed by a Spring edition in May 2022. Between the two marquee events there will also be additional programming to be announced.

“Art dealers and galleries need exhibition platforms that are more sustainable and flexible than the traditional modes of art fairs and brick-and-mortar gallery spaces,” says Art House Co-Founder Michael Plummer.

Reimagining traditional business models of the art world with an inspired vision that speaks to a new generation of artists and collectors entering the market today, Art House will also attract established collectors who are seeking other alternatives to art fairs. It will feature a combination of private salon viewing rooms for international galleries, a VIP member’s club in the former Fred’s restaurant, and year-round flexible event spaces to host seasonal fairs and cultural programming. To further their global reach, exhibitors will have access to a robust online viewing platform, making works of art available to a wider collecting audience.

Art House recognizes the importance of culture and creativity in the regeneration of cities around the world. It will be an active partner along with cultural institutions and other creative initiatives in the effort to revive our creative economy. A full program of major events to coincide with New York City’s arts calendar, as well as future locations for Art House pop-ups, will be announced later this fall.

Authentic Brands Group partnered with Art House to achieve their goal of bringing fine art, cultural installations and entertainment to the beloved space, while fostering creativity and community in New York City. The collaboration between Art House and ABG would not have been possible without the contributions of Jill Dienst of Dienst + Dotter Antikviteter who shared their vision and facilitated this connection to make Art House at 660 Madison a reality.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with ABG on this venture,” said Art House CoFounder Jeff Rabin. “After a tumultuous year and in the wake of the global pandemic, Art House aims to provide galleries with turnkey solutions to support their recovery and build back a stronger, more vibrant art community in New York.”

Foundational to its mission, Art House will also present generous cultural programming that supports an evolving dialogue on critical sustainability issues impacting the environment, the economy, and the arts. During the inaugural season Art House will partner with Nurse Heroes to showcase, Women Who Dared, a selection from the collection of Sandi and Bill Nicholson, comprising 50 never-before-seen artworks by women spanning 2,500 years. The exhibition’s opening event will benefit Nurse Heroes, a non-profit initiative to provide educational scholarships to prospective nurses around the country to counteract a global shortage of nurses.

A full roster of robust programming, lists of member galleries, and event details will be announced in fall 2021.