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The word Limner was first used in Medieval times to describe manuscript illuminators. In
the following centuries it became a general descriptive term for an artist. The word
gradually fell out of use and was revived to describe the itinerant artists of Colonial
America. These self-employed, independent artists traveled from town to town in search of
painting work.
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Limner Gallery was founded in 1987 at 216 East 10th Street in Manhattan's East Village. At that time, the Village was the center of the alternative art scene and Limner quickly became notorious for it's controversial and provocative exhibitions. Taking advantage of the 1980's art boom, the gallery operated successfully at this location. In 1990 the Limner Gallery moved to a Soho loft space at 598 Broadway. |
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Limner's impressive 100 foot long gallery space was typical of Broadway galleries at that time. The area of Lower Broadway in Soho had been a manufacturing district, this loft space was formerly used for clothing manufacturing. In the early 1990s, the loft buildings on Broadway were converted to gallery space to house galleries relocating from the East Village and some new galleries. The Limner space was across the street from the New Museum and Guggenheim Museum. |
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In the mid
1990s the gallery also opened a storefront on Mulberry Street. This store featured the
work of Slowinski and operated in conjunction with the
Limner on Broadway. This space, called Slowinski Gallery,
operated at this location for four years. During the 1990s escalating Soho rents
began forcing out the art galleries, replacing them with upscale boutiques and luxury loft
apartments. Manhattan's downtown art scene began to move to Chelsea, which at that time
was still a lower rent area of Manhattan. |
 Limner at 870 Avenue of the Americas |
In 1998 Limner Gallery relocated to a loft space at 870 Avenue of the Americas, near Manhattan's expanding Chelsea art district. After the destruction of the Twin Towers on 9-11, New York City changed. The main postal sorting station was contaminated with anthrax and mailmen delivered mail with rubber gloves. The Army patrolled the street with M-16s. The art scene suffered a temporary decline as viewers and buyers sought entertainment and housing outside of Manhattan. This contributed to the closing of this space in February 2004. |
 Limner at 59 Main St.in Phoenicia, NY |
From November of 2003 through July of 2006 Limner operated a storefront gallery in the Catskill Mountain resort town of Phoenicia, NY. Phoenicia was revitalized by the flight of city dwellers after 911 as New Yorkers sought refuge in the "safe haven" regions within a few hours drive of Manhattan. The Hudson Valley and Catskill economy were charged with a surge in second home purchases by New York City's wealthy elite and celebrities. |
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The historic Hudson River port City of Hudson, NY is the current home of the Limner Gallery. Hudson is the fine art and antique center of the Hudson Valley and is a popular destination for art and antique collectors. Situated on the eastern bank of the Hudson River with a direct train link to Manhattan, Hudson is readily accessible to both city and country dwellers. It is situated centrally between the Catskill, Berkshire and Hudson Valley resort areas. |
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