ABOUT THE GALLERY
Gallery 151 is a premier contemporary art gallery situated in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City, along with multiple annex locations. The first show at the gallery was hosted by Fab 5 Freddy in December of 2007. This exhibit unveiled a collaborative wall of graffiti discovered during the renovation of 151 Wooster by Michael Namer, downtown developer and owner of the building at the time. One of the former residents of the building was Edit DeAK, who in the late 70’s and early 80’s allowed young artists to “tag” a wall in her loft – some of these “young artists” were Jean-Michel Basquiat, Fab 5 Freddy, Francesco Clemente, Futura 2000, Ero, Nesto, Koor and Johnny Dynell (among others). This graffiti wall was preserved over decades and finally uncovered during construction.

The mission of Gallery 151 is to support emerging New York-based artists and provide a platform for their talent to be recognized by the public. In 2009, Gallery 151 expanded its vernacular to include issues of sustainability and environmental responsibility. The Urban Green Initiative at the gallery was a series of exhibits, charity events, and performances through 2009 and 2010 that used art to encourage the discussion of these issues.

ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Michael Namer immediately recognized the significance of this “holy grail” of graffiti and founded Gallery 151 so that the “151 Wild Style Wall” could be viewed along-side other works by artists of the same period (such as Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Ero, and Koor). The success and popularity of the exhibit led to subsequent requests for exhibits by other artists, and the momentum from the first show in 2007 has continued through the present day.

As a “green” builder, Michael Namer seeks the highest level of energy, resource, and materials efficiency in every project his company develops – whether it is residential, commercial, or hospitality. Through his generous support and sponsorship, he has been able expose the public to this important issue through exhibitions and the voices of talented artists. alfadm.com

ABOUT THE OPERATOR 

Gallery 151 is managed and operated by Wallplay, the experiential arts & innovation network founded by Gallery 151 Director Laura O’Reilly. Wallplay has managed the Gallery 151 program for over five years in partnership with Michael Namer & Alfa Development. Wallplay is also apart of the New Museum’s creative technology incubator NEW INC. wallplay.com