SculptureCenter

Our Mission

SculptureCenter leads the conversation on contemporary art by supporting artistic innovation and independent thought highlighting sculpture's specific potential to change the way we engage with the world. Positioning artists' work in larger cultural, historical, and aesthetic contexts, SculptureCenter discerns and interprets emerging ideas. Founded by artists in 1928, SculptureCenter provides an international forum that connects artists and audiences by presenting exhibitions, commissioning new work, and generating scholarship.

Our Programs

SculptureCenter’s programs explore and reflect the current concerns of and around contemporary sculpture. Taking the history and legacy of sculpture as our foundation, we consider the ways that artists are thinking about three-dimensional work. In supporting new ideas and artistic research, SculptureCenter identifies the most compelling practices and experiments that relate to the history of sculpture.

SculptureCenter introduces emerging artists, commissions work of the highest quality in New York, and provides direct support to the artists for the creation of new work, including production funds, curatorial support, and honoraria. To facilitate deep public engagement and encourage dialogue between visitors of all ages, artists, and their work, SculptureCenter hosts free events and programs that complement and extend beyond our exhibitions, including lectures, panel discussions with leaders in the field of contemporary art and other related fields, readings, workshops, video screenings, and performances. SculptureCenter also produces publications including exhibition catalogs and artist books.

Since relocating to Long Island City in 2001, SculptureCenter has presented works by over nine hundred artists through its annual exhibition program, and today, it is considered one of New York’s most important kunsthalles. Placing emphasis on investment, inclusiveness, independence, transparency, and rigor, SculptureCenter has developed a strong reputation for championing underrecognized and emerging artists, many of whom have gone on to celebrated and substantial careers; these include Nairy Baghramian, Sanford Biggers, Tom Burr, Liz Glynn, Rochelle Goldberg, Leslie Hewitt, Tishan Hsu, Rashid Johnson, Rindon Johnson, Ugo Rondinone, Gedi Sibony, Alexandre Singh, Monika Sosnowska, Mika Tajima, Jesse Wine, Turner Prize winner Charlotte Prodger and nominee Anthea Hamilton, and Hugo Boss Prize winners Anicka Yi and Simone Leigh.

Core Values

Investment

We deploy significant institutional resources - from research and technical expertise to funding and sustained curatorial dialogue - to support artists before, during, and after their exhibitions.

Inclusiveness

We recognize that diversity enriches cultural dialogue and is essential to innovation. We regularly work across borders and generations and seek to reflect and embrace multiple viewpoints in programming, hiring, visitor relations, and facility planning.

Independence

We operate independently of market interests and, to the extent possible, fund production and exhibition costs through fundraising. The artists we showcase are represented by a diverse group of galleries and often by no gallery at all.

Transparency

We are transparent in our interactions with artists, audiences, donors, and other constituents. We share information internally and externally regarding our programs, financials, and other metrics while fostering a culture of openness.

Rigor

In programming and in governance, we are rigorous in our pursuit of new ideas. Our exhibitions, public programming, and scholarship are thoughtful, well researched, and precise in their scope. Our governance and operations are disciplined and efficient.