Willard Gallery

The Willard Gallery was a contemporary art gallery operating in New York City from 1940-1987. It was founded by Marian Willard Johnson.[1]

History

In 1936, Marian Guthrie Willard had founded the East River Gallery as an art rental gallery at 358 East 57 St. As Willard became "more and more interested in the development of individual artists" the idea of renting became less and less appealing and she officially closed the East River Gallery in 1938 to re-evaluate her direction. Willard spent 1938-1940 in association with J.B. Neumann who was turning to selling old masters to supplement the sale of contemporary art. In 1940, she found a small space next door to Curt Valentin's Bucholtz Gallery at 32 East 57th St. where she opened Willard Gallery.[2]

Marian Willard Johnson wrote of her experience running the Gallery:

[Curt Valentin and I] frequently worked together, each showing an aspect of an artist’s work. I showed Alexander Calder’s jewelry while Curt showed his mobiles. We made similar arrangements with the work of Paul Klee, Lyonel Feininger and David Smith. I had been in contact with Mark Tobey and Morris Graves since 1939 and was to launch their work during the early forties... The forties was not an easy moment in art. If we sold a Tobey for $350.00 there was rejoicing and celebration with the artist, who got a tremendous lift from such a sale. Our rent was low, our salaries lower, but we built on faith. A few devoted collectors and museum curators kept us afloat. The fifties brought much wider public interest and better prices. Some reputations had been established and the Gallery overhead was assured as was the living of many of our artists...In l952 the Willard Gallery moved to 23 West 56 St.[2]

In 1942, Willard married Dan Johnson, at this point changing her surname to Willard Johnson, and henceforth directed the Gallery in partnership with her husband. In l962 the Gallery moved to its final location at 29 East 72 St. After Dan and Marian Johnson retired in 1970 their daughter, Miani Johnson, took directorship of the gallery until, again facing relocation, she closed it in l987.[3] Willard Gallery was a member of the Art Dealer’s Association of America.

References

  1. ↑ Glueck, Grace. "Marian Willard Johnson, 81, Dealer in Contemporary Art", The New York Times , New York, 7 November 1985
  2. 1 2 Willard Johnson, Marian. "A Commitment to Art", The Chapin School Alumnae Bulletin, New York, 1973.
  3. ↑ Newhall, Edith (May 25, 1987), "Willard Weep for Me", New York Magazine, New York, vol. 20 no. 21, p. 26
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