David Zwirner

Back in March, when the coronavirus pandemic first began to truly terrify and isolate most New Yorkers, David Zwirner Gallery acted quickly to ensure that the city’s smaller art galleries weren’t abandoned in the mad rush to make the entirety of their operations digitally accessible. The mega-gallery quickly launched a new initiative: a viewing room hosted David Zwirner’s enviably sophisticated website called Platform: New York that featured a focused presentation of works from 12 independent New York City galleries, including James Fuentes, 47 Canal, Magenta Plains and others. Crucially, Zwirner didn’t charge any of the galleries a fee for the use of the online space; the intent was solely for smaller local galleries to stay afloat.

David Zwirner Gallery’s continually large and influential presence in the art world is due to innovations such as this; ones that allow smaller initiatives to survive and thrive. Additionally, in late September, Zwirner announced the hiring of Ebony L. Haynes as the director of a forthcoming exhibition space that will open soon in New York City. True to Haynes’ vision, the gallery space will consist of an all-Black staff and provide an internship program that will offer training opportunities exclusively to Black students interested in finding their footing in the art world. “Like so many of Ebony’s stellar exhibitions and projects, this space will undoubtedly create a new mold for gallery programming today,” Zwirner said in a statement at the time. “I am so excited to work with her on realizing her vision.”