Aperture Opens at 380 Columbus Avenue
The new home for photography, now open to the public as of September 18
Aperture Ribbon Cutting, New York, September 2026. Photo by Lloyd McCullough
To mark the momentous opening of Aperture’s permanent home in New York’s Upper West Side, supporters, artists, and neighbors gathered for a ceremonial ribbon cutting on the morning of September 18, following festive celebrations the evening before. The opening events toasted Aperture’s new chapter at 380 Columbus Avenue—a dedicated space for “serious photographers and creative people everywhere,” as its founders envisioned seventy-four years ago.
Honoring Aperture’s past and future, more than thirty artists gathered to take a group photograph, marking the significance of the occasion. Other artists in attendance included Emmet Gowin, Richard Renaldi, Sable Elyse Smith, Naima Green, Philip Montgomery, Edward Burtynsky, and Carlos Jaramillo.
Cathy Kaplan, Chair of Aperture’s Board of Trustees, welcomed guests and recognized the many funders and organizations whose steadfast support made the new home possible. Public officials, including New York City Council Member Gale A. Brewer; Erika Mallin, Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts; Diya Vij, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; Miesha Smith, Deputy Borough President for Manhattan; and Erik Bottcher, New York State Senator, joined to celebrate Aperture’s contributions to New York’s arts and culture landscape.
Gale A. Brewer, Sarah Meister, Cynthia Hornig. Photo by Lloyd McCullough
Photo by Lloyd McCullough
Diya Vij, Erika Mallin, Gale A. Brewer. Photo by Lloyd McCullough
Photo by Lloyd McCullough
Just before the ribbon-cutting moment, Aperture Executive Director Sarah Meister expressed deep appreciation and emphasized the significance of 380 Columbus Avenue as a welcoming forum to gather, share ideas, and engage with photography. “Just like each brick in the beautiful arches of this load-bearing masonry building needs its neighbor to serve its function, each of us has played an essential role in making this historic moment possible,” said Meister, in thanks to the supporters, staff, and community.
At the celebrations, guests previewed the bookstore, stocked with new and classic Aperture publications along with titles in collaboration with Dashwood Books, New York, and Offset Projects, New Delhi, and visited the gallery space featuring the inaugural installation Aperture Loves New York, which showcases artists anchored in Aperture’s publishing history with photographs and corresponding Aperture books that have advanced the medium of photography and captured the complex spirit of New York itself. Guests also stopped by the new photo booth, which will remain available for visitors. Now open to the public, Aperture hosts a full season of artist talks, panel discussions, and book celebrations.
Naima Green, Nicole Acheampong, Sable Elyse Smith. Photo by Landon Nordeman
Tina Barney, Kwame Brathwaite Jr., Dawoud Bey, Sarah Meister. Photo by Landon Nordeman
Stephen Shore. Photo by Landon Nordeman
Marvin Heiferman, Kelli Connell, Richard Renaldi. Photo by Landon Nordeman
Brendan Embser, Ethan James Green. Photo by Landon Nordeman
Michael Famighetti, Coreen Simpson. Photo by Landon Nordeman
Dean Majd, Roxana Marcoci. Photo by Landon Nordeman
Justine Kurland, Elizabeth Kahane, Shira White. Photo by Landon Nordeman
Roxana Marcoci, Makeda Best, Ming Smith. Photo by Landon Nordeman
Thomas R. Schiff, Mary Ellen Goeke. Photo by Landon Nordeman
Edward Burtynsky, Julia Johnston, Cathy Kaplan. Photo by Landon Nordeman
Photo by Lloyd McCullough
Photo by Landon Nordeman
Aperture thanks Leica, Massican, Ruinart, and Zabar’s for their generous support of the opening celebrations. Promotional support for Aperture Loves New York is provided in part by the New York City Tourism Foundation.
Aperture’s capital campaign to date includes transformative gifts from Judy Glickman Lauder, Melissa and James O’Shaughnessy, Vasant Nayak, Thomas R. Schiff, and Jon Stryker and Slobodan Randjelović, as well as from Michael Hoeh and the Thompson Family Foundation. Aperture received significant grants from New York State Council on the Arts; and City of New York, including the Manhattan Borough President, New York City Council, and New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Support for the campaign reflects the full participation of Aperture’s Board of Trustees, along with generous contributions from other individuals and foundations. The acquisition of the new space was led by Cathy M. Kaplan, Chair of Aperture’s Board; Helen Nitkin, Chair of the Board’s Real Estate Committee; and Sarah Meister, Executive Director. Financing has been provided by LISC NY, a nonprofit community development institution.
