New York’s Fotografiska has announced plans to close its location in Midtown Manhattan and relocate to a new space within the city. Having opened its US branch in 2019, the Stockholm-founded contemporary photography museum has additional outposts in Berlin, Shanghai and the Estonian capital of Tallinn.
Currently housed at 281 Park Avenue South, the six-story, 45,000-square-foot Renaissance Revival building that Fotografiska occupies was first constructed in 1892 and specializes in hosting established and emerging figures in contemporary photography. “At the core of Fotografiska is a dedication to inspiring new perspectives by amplifying some of the greatest artists of our time,” said Yoram Roth, the executive chairman of Fotografiska’s board, in a statement. “As it’s become clear that our current space is not conducive to this vision, our commitment to the city’s art scene remains unwavering.”
Past reports have indicated that the museum’s nine-foot walls, as opposed to the 12-foot walls of its other locations, limit what the team to accomplish in New York. Despite this slight hindrance, Fotografiska has hosted 48 shows in the US, including Josèfa Ntjam, Hassan Hajjaj, David LaChapelle, as well as ongoing exhibitions by Daniel Arsham and two forthcoming shows that will conclude its time at Park Avenue by Vivian Maier and Bruce Gilden.
There is no news about where exactly the museum aims to relocate, other than it will be “a larger space that will create a better guest experience, and showcase the ambitious visions of the artists we present globally,” wrote Fotografiska in a statement.