ABOUT

Vision

To reimagine an inclusive public for artists

Mission

Recess partners with artists to build a more just and equitable creative community. By welcoming radical thinkers to reimagine and reshape their world, Recess defines and advances the possibilities of contemporary art.

Our programs offer space and resources to generate innovative art and ideas that challenge dominant narratives. Recess is always free and open to the public to serve as a meeting place for meaningful exchange and action across a multiplicity of communities.

History

Recess was formed in May of 2009 to align with evolving conditions of creative practice and its public reception. In response to the needs of artists and audiences, the organization fills the liminal space between polished gallery and private studio to take on ambitious projects that don’t fit squarely within the boundaries of these customary contexts.

Since it’s inception, Recess has engaged in constant self-evaluation in order to best support a diverse group of artists whose exceptional works engage with communities to build a more vibrant and accessible art world. To deepen our commitment to our constituents and further our mission, we have added a diverse line of programs. Working closely with non-profit and for-profit outfits, as well as networks and associations, Recess builds points of entry for artists from around and within the economic structures of the art world.

Today, we strive to set a high bar for the level of support we give each artist and develop avenues to create deeper, more long-term commitments to the artists we serve. As we grow, we will realize increasingly ambitious and larger-scaled projects while maintaining our agile and flexible responsiveness to artists’ needs. We will support the repatriation of working artists in established and or gentrified space. We will strive to keep artists in New York City.

To see Recess’s financial history, click here.