On April 2nd, tastemaking gallery Fortnight Institute, founded by Fabiola Alondra and Jane Harmon, declared its permanent closure. Located in Manhattan’s East Village, the gallery has been a pivotal presence in the New York art scene since its inception in 2016.
Harmon and Alondra, who worked concurrently for the artist Richard Prince and 303inPrint, respectively, used their shared resources to open the gallery, according to a 2017 profile in Cultured. Fortnight Institute quickly distinguished itself by hosting solo exhibitions from artists such as Chris Oh in 2016 and Peter Shear in 2017. Its final exhibition, “Swallowing Figments” by Cheri Smith, was intended to run until April 20th.
“We questioned whether we would need to adopt a more market-oriented approach and further expand the gallery to support our artists,” the founder said in a statement. “Amidst these conversations, we reflected on the most enjoyable and valuable aspects of running this space. Ultimately, these discussions led us to reaffirm our commitment to a mission centered on creativity and artist-driven endeavors—a mission that resonates deeply within us and one that we aspire to nurture in our future endeavors.”
The closure of Fortnight Institute closely follows the recent shutdown of another nearby gallery, Helena Anrather, adding to the concerning trend of shuttering downtown galleries, reflecting the growing challenges faced by independent art spaces in New York City.
