Knoedler has restored the 1909 townhouse at 19 East 70th Street, the building that has housed the gallery for 35 of its 159 years in business. Established in 1846, Knoedler is one of the oldest galleries in the US. “The building is a historic landmark and has needed some maintenance for some time”, says Knoedler president Ann Freedman, noting that unlike many galleries that have relocated, “we are committed to this house and location or we would have had great financial opportunity to sell this building”. The one-month overhaul cost more than $500,000 and involved structural work to the three-floor space, adding new climate control, lighting designed by Richard Renfro, oak flooring, and a redesigned stairway to the lower-level gallery. The renovated gallery will be inaugurated on 6 October with works by Lee Bontecou as part of a city-wide 130th anniversary salute to the Art Student League, where Ms Bontecou attended classes. Knoedler has also become the exclusive representative of Catherine Murphy, the self-described “observational” painter who until recently has shown her meticulous figurative paintings and drawings with Lennon Weinberg.
Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as 'Knoedler restores Upper East side landmark'