At 97, pioneering art dealer Marian Goodman has left an indelible mark on the contemporary art world. A trailblazer in her own right, Goodman's legacy as a champion of experimental and socially engaged practices is being celebrated by those who knew her, from artists she worked with to critics who praised her commitment to showcasing groundbreaking work.
A "quiet matriarch" of the art world, Goodman built her reputation through a rigorously global program that privileged longevity over quick turnover. She was instrumental in launching the careers of artists such as Gerhard Richter and Ana Mendieta, who have since achieved museum-level recognition for their contributions to contemporary art.
Goodman's own career was shaped by her family – particularly her father, who collected works by modern artist Milton Avery – and her experiences as a mother and wife. After separating from her children's father in the late 1960s, Goodman devoted herself to pursuing her passion for art, eventually co-founding a printing cooperative with fellow Upper West Side mothers.
As her gallery grew, so did its reputation. Goodman was known for her exceptional eye for talent and her unwavering commitment to showcasing significant and challenging work. Her gallery's program consistently prioritized practices best suited to museums or progressive Kunsthalle spaces rather than commercial galleries or collectors' living rooms.
Under the guidance of new partners appointed in 2022, including Rose Lord, Junette Teng, Emily-Jane Kirwan, Leslie Nolen, and Philipp Kaiser, Goodman's legacy continues to unfold. Her latest gallery in Los Angeles, which opened in September 2023, is a testament to her enduring vision for contemporary art.
Throughout her career, Goodman has been characterized by her pluralistic view of art and her recognition of its vast potential beyond market trends. As she once observed, "It is among the artists whose work I like that I have found the qualities I value from my own experience: a humanistic concern, a culture-critical sense of our way of life, a dialectical approach to reality, and an artistic vision about civic life."
As we bid farewell to Marian Goodman, it is clear that her impact on contemporary art will be felt for generations to come. Her dedication to showcasing groundbreaking work, supporting artists' practices, and fostering long-term relationships between galleries and institutions has left an indelible mark on the art world.
A "quiet matriarch" of the art world, Goodman built her reputation through a rigorously global program that privileged longevity over quick turnover. She was instrumental in launching the careers of artists such as Gerhard Richter and Ana Mendieta, who have since achieved museum-level recognition for their contributions to contemporary art.
Goodman's own career was shaped by her family – particularly her father, who collected works by modern artist Milton Avery – and her experiences as a mother and wife. After separating from her children's father in the late 1960s, Goodman devoted herself to pursuing her passion for art, eventually co-founding a printing cooperative with fellow Upper West Side mothers.
As her gallery grew, so did its reputation. Goodman was known for her exceptional eye for talent and her unwavering commitment to showcasing significant and challenging work. Her gallery's program consistently prioritized practices best suited to museums or progressive Kunsthalle spaces rather than commercial galleries or collectors' living rooms.
Under the guidance of new partners appointed in 2022, including Rose Lord, Junette Teng, Emily-Jane Kirwan, Leslie Nolen, and Philipp Kaiser, Goodman's legacy continues to unfold. Her latest gallery in Los Angeles, which opened in September 2023, is a testament to her enduring vision for contemporary art.
Throughout her career, Goodman has been characterized by her pluralistic view of art and her recognition of its vast potential beyond market trends. As she once observed, "It is among the artists whose work I like that I have found the qualities I value from my own experience: a humanistic concern, a culture-critical sense of our way of life, a dialectical approach to reality, and an artistic vision about civic life."
As we bid farewell to Marian Goodman, it is clear that her impact on contemporary art will be felt for generations to come. Her dedication to showcasing groundbreaking work, supporting artists' practices, and fostering long-term relationships between galleries and institutions has left an indelible mark on the art world.
Marian Goodman was like a superhero in the art world - she was all about lifting up new talent & pushing boundaries 
! She didn't care about being trendy, but rather built her reputation on showcasing artists who were really making waves 
. I mean, launching Gerhard Richter and Ana Mendieta's careers is no small feat 
! Her gallery always had a super chill vibe, focusing on art that was actually meaningful & impactful 
. Sadly she's gone, but I'm sure her legacy will keep inspiring artists for ages to come 
. It's crazy to think she's still inspiring new partners to carry on her legacy 
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, but I think her legacy is gonna inspire a whole new generation of artists 
! It's amazing how her gallery prioritized showing challenging work over making it mainstream - that takes so much guts and vision. And can we talk about how cool it was for her to co-found a printing cooperative with fellow moms on the Upper West Side? Girl power in all its forms 
! The fact that she's leaving behind such an incredible network of artists, critics, and institutions is a testament to her impact 
. I'm so grateful we get to learn from her example and keep pushing the boundaries of what art can do 
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she was definitely a game changer in the art world, all those artists she helped launch careers for are super grateful to her. i think its cool that she built her gallery based on longevity over quick turnover, its like she knew what was gonna last. and can you believe she co-founded a printing cooperative with other moms? thats some real community building 
, but let's not get too sappy about it. i mean, sure she was awesome at discovering new talent and pushing boundaries, but let's not forget she was also super wealthy and had some major connections to help her gallery thrive. that being said, it's cool that she left a lasting legacy and stuff 