I can’t believe I’m saying this: my Lower East Side gallery tour is now my overall favorite of all five neighborhoods where I lead tours!  This is all the more amazing considering that a few short years ago there weren’t enough galleries in the Lower East Side to even constitute a tour.  The L.E.S. is the most dynamic, most rapidly-growing art neighborhood, not just in the city but in the world.  See what all the fuss is about on this Saturday’s tour.

There are two reasons for my growing admiration of this downtown area.  One is that the Lower East Side has been establishing itself as the mecca for young, first-time gallery owners, who in turn are bringing fresh, extraordinary artists to the world’s attention.  Many of the new L.E.S. gallery owners have backgrounds as former gallery directors in blue chip galleries all over the city, so they know what they’re doing.  And, because rents in the Lower East Side are lower than in the city’s other gallery neighborhoods, they’re able to take thrilling risks.

The other reason for my strong feelings is the charm and vitality of the neighborhood itself.  The L.E.S. is the most residential, most multi-ethnic of all the city’s art neighborhoods, so its streets are full of an energetic bustle of mom-and-pop storefronts that reflect the area’s many eras: Jewish, Latino, Asian, and more.  As it gentrifies to some degree, it’s also just about the trendiest neighborhood in the city, with exciting new-themed bars, restaurants, boutiques, and niche yuppie stores.  It’s hard to say whether the 125 Lower East Side galleries (and growing) are a cause or a result of the rapid changes to this neighborhood.  I’d surmise it’s a bit of both.

Chelsea, with its 300 galleries, still remains my most “extraordinary” tour.  But the Lower East Side is now my “favorite” tour.  I now lead TWO “must-see” gallery tours a month.  Take advantage!

Rafael Risemberg, Ph.D.
Founder and Director
New York GalleryTours