As soon as All-Black–Staffed 52 Walker Gallery Quietly Shifts

[ad_1] by Jameelah Mullen January 24, 2026

The NYC 52 Walker gallery goes world.

The 52 Walker Gallery (52W), recognized for elevating Black voices, has quietly entered a brand new chapter. The area, based by Ebony L. Haynes, is now formally a David Zwirner Artwork area.

The Tribeca, New York Metropolis gallery has all the time operated beneath the David Zwirner umbrella. It functioned independently, with an all‑Black employees and full curatorial autonomy. Haynes formed the programming, staffing, and imaginative and prescient, and he or she had the liberty to run it on her personal phrases.

The shift marks a transfer away from the area’s unique mission. Zwirner as soon as described that mission as addressing inequalities within the business artwork world, particularly in employment. Haynes views the change as a chance to broaden her mission.

“Every part must evolve, and I need to have the ability to tackle new tasks and alternatives,” she informed ARTnews. “52 Walker was in a single location for 4 years and can now be extra world and nomadic. Hopefully, all of that is part of its legacy, and it’s nonetheless forming.”

Haynes explains that, via her connection to Zwirner, she's going to now be capable to curate throughout the David Zwirner world community. That community contains galleries in New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Hong Kong.

The curator additionally notes that the 52 Walker initiative was by no means supposed to function a everlasting, standalone web site. It is going to now proceed with Haynes-curated exhibitions showcased throughout Zwirner’s worldwide places. The all-Black employees, which attracted important consideration within the artwork world, will proceed to play a key position in 52W and future tasks.

Throughout its 4‑plus years, 52 Walker showcased a posh mixture of historic figures and modern artists. Its exhibitions stood other than conventional artwork exhibits. The gallery featured artists akin to Kandis Williams, Kara Walker, Arthur Jafa, Diamond Stingily, Nora Turato, Tau Lewis, and Lotus L. Kang.

Hayne’s latest tasks embrace a Raymond Saunders exhibition in Los Angeles, a “Let Us All Be Residents 2” in London, and a Tau Lewis presentation in Los Angeles.