15-Year Anniversary Exhibition
Curated by David Ebony
January 17 - February 28, 2026
Marc Straus Gallery
299 Grand Street, New York City
@marcstrausgallery
—
I am truly grateful to be part of this exhibition along with so many great artists from all over the world.
I first came to New York City 10 years ago, in January 2016. Marc offered me a studio across the street from the gallery and said, “Why don’t you come visit us, I’d love to see more, you can pay rent with paintings.” I booked a flight and landed in the middle of a snowstorm a few weeks later. It was freezing cold, but as soon as I climbed the stairs from the subway in Midtown, I knew this was the place I wanted to stay. I had never felt so connected before. I was radically open and just said yes to everything. Half-day painting, half-day exploring the city. I slept on a mattress in the kitchen of a friend’s ex-lover in New Jersey and took the bus to Port Authority very early in the morning and back late at night. In the middle of bustling Chinatown, in a studio where rats came visit, I simply did what I always wanted to do: paint. Far away from the place where I had grown up as an artist, I felt very free. A few weeks later, my first solo show opened on Grand Street. The rest is history...
TBC
#newyorkcityartist
#painting
#annaleonhardt
#marcstrausgallery
