Gertrude Whitney Studio is the first studio of artist and sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, founder of the Whitney Museum of American Art. It was a place where she not only created her own work but also attracted contemporary artists whose pieces later became part of the permanent collection of one of the leading museums of American art.
History
Sculptor and patronGertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (1875–1942) was the founder of one of the most significant institutions devoted to American art — the Whitney Museum of American Art.
In 1907, Whitney purchased a former carriage house at 19 MacDougal Alley in Greenwich Village, New York, which she converted into her studio. Over the years, she became an active presence in the artistic community — not only creating work herself but also supporting artists, organizing exhibitions, classes, and gatherings.
In 1914, she established the Whitney Studio, merging adjacent houses (including the townhouses on West 8th Street) to expand her studio space and create a venue for exhibitions of American artists.
By the late 1920s, Whitney had built a substantial collection — several hundred works by living American artists, many of whom were ignored by traditional academies. In 1929, when the Metropolitan Museum refused to accept her collection, she decided to found an institution of her own.
In 1954, the museum relocated, and the building eventually became the New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture.
Collection and Studio
The Gertrude Whitney Studio is not a museum in the traditional sense and does not display a large permanent collection of paintings and sculptures. Instead, it offers guided tours organized by the New York Studio School. These include visits to Whitney’s original studio and an overview of architectural details throughout the building.
A sculpture by Whitney is displayed in the school’s courtyard, and there is also an indoor gallery: in addition to educational programs, the school regularly hosts exhibitions of contemporary artists.
Special thematic tours and events are held periodically — for example, A Rare Look Inside the Gertrude Whitney Studio. Tickets for these guided tours can be reserved in advance.
During Open House New York, the studio opens its historic spaces to the public.
Interesting Facts
- In 1918, Gertrude Whitney commissioned artist Robert Winthrop Chanler to create a decorative sculptural relief around the fireplace in the studio. This fantastical, mythologically inspired plasterwork gives the room a refined, salon-like atmosphere.
- The studio contains a secret staircase, which Whitney used to move between her studio and the office of the museum’s first director, Juliana Force, without having to go outside.
- The studio is officially recognized as a National Treasure.
Practical Information
Website: nyss.org/about/visit/whitney-tours
Address: 8 W 8th St, New York, NY 10011
Admission: $29
