Welcome to Holland Tunnel Gallery’s unique art spaces…
Dutch artist Paulien Lethen opened the original Holland Tunnel Gallery in 1997 in her newly installed garden shed in Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY . It was a totally different way to experience art! The ‘smallest gallery of New York’ (The New York Times) rapidly gained international recognition in the art world and the instant success led to many shows and other locations, each with a unique atmosphere. The Williamsburg location closed in 2019 allowing Paulien to focus on her two other locations, Newburgh NY in the Hudson Valley and Parika Paros Greece.
We hope that you will take the time to learn about Holland Tunnel Gallery and join us in person.
NEWBURGH NY
HOLLAND TUNNEL GALLERY NEWBURGH OPENED MAY 2018 Gallery, sculpture garden and artist studios See CALENDER
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Paulien Lethen opened Holland Tunnel Gallery & Studios Newburgh, NY in a 1860 warehouse on Chambers St 46 between Broadway and First Street in 2018. An industrial gallery space with high ceiling, and a grand piano for concerts, it is the second US location for the Holland Tunnel Gallery.
When Lethen moved to live in Newburgh and met the lively art community, it seemed logical that that the Holland Tunnel Gallery would follow. Creating a new place for exhibitions, performances, concerts and movie screenings she is fostering the sort of community anchor she created with the Williamsburg incarnation of Holland Tunnel Gallery.
The Newburgh location also allows for artist studios which Lethen sees as an extention of the mission of Holland Tunnel, in building space for creative endeavors. The gallery and studios providing a dialogue with each other.
In Newburgh, Paulien Lethen feels the same exciting artistic energy of Williamsburg in the ‘90’s – then known as The New Bohemia. She is happy to offer a new cultural venue and art center in the Historic District of Newburgh where art and people can come together.
PARIKIA PAROS GREECE
HOLLAND TUNNEL GALLERY PAROS OPENED JULY 2000 Summer exhibitions and events See CALENDER
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In 2000 Holland Tunnel Gallery opened a second art space, located on the island of Paros, Greece.
Before moving to New York in the ‘80’s, Dutch artist and gallery founder Paulien Lethen lived on Paros for a number of years. When she and her sister, Dutch jazz pianist/vocalist Heleen Schuttevaêr bought a Cycladic 18th century house in the old center of Parikia, a historic merchant mansion, they were able to bring to fruition an idea they had for a long time in bringing Holland Tunnel to the island.
Every summer Lethen and Schuttevaêr open the house for concerts, poetry readings, artist talks and model drawing classes where artists, local neighbors, friends and tourists gather.
The opposite of the original one-space Williamsburg gallery, Holland Tunnel Paros exhibitions begin at street level in arched spaces where previously potatoes, onions, olives and wine were stored then continue to the courtyard and upstairs. Here the kitchen, dining room, library and family bedrooms lead to the spectacular 15 foot (4 ½ meter) high salla (salon).
Exhibitions often have an ancient Greek theme, like Labyrinth, Metamorphosis, Oracle, Pandemonium and often are part of teh arts festival on the island.
Williamsburg Brooklyn NY
THE FIRST HOLLAND TUNNEL GALLERY, 1997 - 2019NOW CLOSED ’The smallest gallery of New York’ (NYT)
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In November 1997 Dutch artist Paulien Lethen used the Home Depot garden shed in her backyard - model Chelsea, 8 x 10 ft./ 2 ½ x 3 m, -for an exhibition in a Williamsburg art tour weekend and Holland Tunnel Gallery was born.
From 1997-2007 Lethen presented a monthly show schedule. Every exhibition became a unique installation with interaction between the art and the unusual space. The gallery gained recognition in the international art world and became a neighborhood icon as a microcosm of local and international talent.
Roberta Smith, art critic of The New York Times, reported: "One of the quirkiest spaces in Williamsburg is Holland Tunnel, on South Third Street, a front-runner for first place as the tiniest gallery in the metropolitan area.”
Music and events always added a lively element to Holland Tunnel Gallery. As the gallery only accommodated six people at a time, the parking lot between the adjoining brownstones served as meeting point, bar location and stage - no matter what the weather was! Visitors were found dancing to live jazz, rock and blues often, and the space became a cultural hub of the community.
