About
The West Chelsea Artists Studios tour was founded in 2011 by West Chelsea artist Scotto Mycklebust in response to a May 2011 public art promotional event called "West Chelsea Gallery Week". The event organizing participating galleries were not interested in including or supporting local West Chelsea artists as part of the West Chelsea art tour event. Since 2011 the open artist studios event has be presented annually during the New York City's West Chelsea's spring art seasons.
Photo: Scotto Mycklebust, Rodney Durso Studio, 526 West 26th Street, Studio 503
This annual event allows area artists to open their studios to the public. Art lovers, collectors, dealers, visitors, and tourists from around the world can meet the artists and see first hand where some of the world's greatest contemporary art is created, before it hangs on museum and gallery walls.
This year is the 12th year anniversary of the West Chelsea Artists Studios annual spring preview edition.
On Saturday and Sunday, May 13th and 14th from 12-6 p.m. visitors can tour participating artists studios located in buildings throughout the West Chelsea Gallery district. The open studios tour starts at the West Chelsea Building located at 526 West 26th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenue. Visitors can pickup open studios tour map and artists information at the information center in the lobby.
Arts in West Chelsea
In the 1990s, many of New York's commercial art galleries and dealers moved from Soho and 57th street to West Chelsea. Just as artists had transformed Soho in the 1960s, West Chelsea underwent a massive change. Previously, West Chelsea had been an industrial area bustling with factories, auto body shops and garages.
Today, those garages house some of the top contemporary art galleries in the world. West Chelsea is considered the contemporary art mecca in the world. Artists, collectors, dealers, art lovers and tourists come from all over the world to check out the latest contemporary art trends on the gallery walls and to tour the neighborhood.
The West Chelsea Boodling become home to hundreds of artists and art related businesses, from galleries to designers, architects, photographer, to art support businesses. Becoming a major hub of art activities and commerces.
Photo: Scotto Mycklebust, West Chelsea Gallery