March 10, 2021

THE FAST RISE OF METRO PICTURES
Some Early Announcement Cards 1980-1982

The recent announcement that Metro Pictures art gallery will close at the end of 2021 stirs memories about how this once small gallery, founded in 1980 by Janelle Reiring and Helene Winer, got off to a roaring start with a quick succession of exhibitions featuring now famous artists whose work continues to command art-world respect.

Countering the trend of new expressionist painting prevalent at the time, the artists at Metro Pictures created thought-provoking paintings and photographs that explored mass-media imagery using strategies drawn from conceptual art. Metro Pictures helped popularize appropriation and led the way in elevating the status of photography into fine art. Today the term Pictures Generation is used to describe many of the artists associated with the gallery.

Gallery 98 has a large collection of announcement cards from Metro Pictures’ earliest years on Mercer Street in Soho. The cards track the gallery’s impeccable record in discovering talent. The artists they showed — Jack Goldstein, Cindy Sherman, Robert Longo, Richard Prince, Sherrie Levine, Walter Robinson, James Welling, Laurie Simmons, Louise Lawler, Michael Kelly — continue to grow in popularity. The announcement cards may be under-stated in design, but their content is impressive. Metro Pictures will surely be missed.

More announcement cards can be found in our section on Metro Pictures.

INAUGURAL EXHIBITION, November 1980

Metro Pictures, Inaugural Exhibition, Folded Paper Invitation, November 14, 1980. Size: 7.5 x 7.5 inches

JACK GOLDSTEIN, CINDY SHERMAN, December 1980

Metro Pictures, Jack Goldstein, Cindy Sherman, Folded Paper Invitation, December 6, 1980 – January 7, 1981. Size: 7.25 x 7.5 inches.

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ROBERT LONGO, January 1981

Metro Pictures, Robert Longo, Men In Cities, Folded Paper Invitation, January 10 – 31, 1981. Size: 7.5 x 7.5 inches.

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JACK GOLDSTEIN, October 1981

Metro Pictures, Jack Goldstein, Folded Card, October 10 – October 31, 1981. Size: 7 x 7.25 inches.

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CINDY SHERMAN, November 1981

Metro Pictures, Cindy Sherman, Color Photographs, Folded Card, November 7 – 28, 1981. Size: 7.25 x 7.25 inches.

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RICHARD PRINCE, April 1982

Metro Pictures, Richard Prince, Black and White in Color Photographs, Folded Card, April 10 – May 3, 1982. Size: 7 x 7 inches.

MICHAEL KELLEY, September 1982

Metro Pictures, Michael Kelley, Monkey Island and Confusion, Card, September 18 – October 9, 1982. Size: 6 x 4.25 inches.

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LOUISE LAWLER, November 1982

Metro Pictures, Louise Lawler, Pictures and Photographs of Arrangements, Card, November 20 – December 18, 1982. Size: 6 x 4.25 inches.

Cindy Sherman Jack Goldstein Metro Pictures Robert Longo

March 18, 2021
HELL IS YOU: THE NEW CINEMA 1979 A Poster By Christopher Wool, 1994

Newsletter
One of the most conspicuous developments in downtown New York in the late 1970s was the decision by many young artists to start making low- budget, narrative films. This was part of a broader embrace of popular media, as many of these filmmakers were also active in rock bands.
March 4, 2021
KIKI SMITH Two Unusual Works From The Early 1980s

Newsletter
Gallery 98 has a special connection to the artist group Collaborative Projects Inc. (COLAB). Old announcement cards, flyers and early multiples by artists connected to the group make up a significant part of our inventory.
February 25, 2021
TEA PARTY AT THE ALGONGUIN HOTEL A Gathering of Women Artists, 1991

Newsletter
In the same celebratory spirit as Great Day in Harlem, the famous group portrait of jazz musicians, Tea Party at the Algonguin Hotel salutes women artists as a newly empowered creative force. This iconic image was created to promote Show of Strength, a benefit exhibition for MADRE, an organization working with women to address humanitarian needs around the…
February 18, 2021
PORTRAITS OF CLUB STARS Nightlife Ephemera – The 1980s

Newsletter
Invitations, posters and other nightclub ephemera document the important role that clubs played in the creative spirit of Downtown NYC in the 1980s. The Mudd Club, Club 57, AREA, Danceteria, Palladium and other clubs were key venues for curators, performance artists, photographers, filmmakers and clothing designers. Gallery 98 spotlights some of these club stars…
February 13, 2021
HARLEM RENAISSANCE PICTORIAL MAP One Hundred Years of History, Art, and Culture

Newsletter
Harlem was never an isolated neighborhood. For most of the 20th century it was the center of African-American life in the United States, a mecca that attracted Black people from all around the country and the world.
February 4, 2021
ART EPHEMERA – ARTIST PORTRAITS William Pope. L, Judy Chicago, Julian Schnabel, Willem de Kooning

Newsletter
Collectors of art ephemera who focus on the career of a favorite artist highly prize cards and flyers that include a portrait of the artist. Ephemera of this kind is surprisingly rare as most galleries and museums prefer to promote the works being exhibited rather than the artist. Gallery…
January 28, 2021
A LIFE IN ART CAPTURED IN EPHEMERA Edit DeAk, Critic and Curator (1948 – 2017)

Newsletter
Edit DeAk was an art enthusiast who truly got involved. Art-Rite (1973-78), the low budget newsprint magazine that she founded and co-edited with Walter Robinson, was one entry into the art world.
January 20, 2021
A PERFORMANCE ART CLASSIC Chris Burden, 747, Los Angeles, January 5, 1973

Newsletter
This early work by West Coast performance artist Chris Burden pushed all the limits. Burden is best known for SHOOT (1971) a performance in which he was shot in his left shoulder with a rifle from 15 feet away.
January 13, 2021
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE More Art Ephemera From The Last Century

Newsletter
There are many reasons to collect art ephemera. This selection from the Gallery 98 inventory features prime items from the 1970s and 80s that skirt the lines traditionally separating art, entertainment, politics and everyday life, and offer a wide variety of choices. Andy Warhol, Happy Birthday Holly, 1986 Palladium, Andy Warhol, Happy…
January 5, 2021
ART EPHEMERA FROM THE LAST CENTURY Telling Stories and Preserving History

Newsletter
As we move into this new year with everything in flux it is more important than ever to remember our past. Art ephemera can help keep what is behind us alive. How will people remember the artists and art events of the last century? These new additions to the Gallery 98 provide fodder for thought. Ray Johnson’s…
December 28, 2020
Looking Back Over The Last Twelve Months Some Favorite 2020 Newsletters

Newsletter
The art world of the 1970s, 80s and 90s is the focus of Gallery 98. These decades were noteworthy not only for art, but also for the vast amount of printed art ephemera that was a by-product of the display and marketing of the art. Each week we…
December 16, 2020
A HISTORY OF JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT Through Vintage Cards, Posters and Publications

Newsletter
The art ephemera of Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960 – 1988) is of special interest driven not only by his phenomenal success but also by the way his work brings together different segments of the art world. Cards show him exhibiting in nightclubs, pop-up spaces and in the toniest art galleries.

THE FAST RISE OF METRO PICTURES Some Early Announcement Cards 1980-1982

INAUGURAL EXHIBITION, November 1980

JACK GOLDSTEIN, CINDY SHERMAN, December 1980

ROBERT LONGO, January 1981

JACK GOLDSTEIN, October 1981

CINDY SHERMAN, November 1981

RICHARD PRINCE, April 1982

MICHAEL KELLEY, September 1982

LOUISE LAWLER, November 1982

March 18, 2021HELL IS YOU: THE NEW CINEMA 1979 A Poster By Christopher Wool, 1994

March 4, 2021KIKI SMITH Two Unusual Works From The Early 1980s

February 25, 2021TEA PARTY AT THE ALGONGUIN HOTEL A Gathering of Women Artists, 1991

February 18, 2021PORTRAITS OF CLUB STARS Nightlife Ephemera – The 1980s

February 13, 2021HARLEM RENAISSANCE PICTORIAL MAP One Hundred Years of History, Art, and Culture

February 4, 2021ART EPHEMERA – ARTIST PORTRAITS William Pope. L, Judy Chicago, Julian Schnabel, Willem de Kooning

January 28, 2021A LIFE IN ART CAPTURED IN EPHEMERA Edit DeAk, Critic and Curator (1948 – 2017)

January 20, 2021A PERFORMANCE ART CLASSIC Chris Burden, 747, Los Angeles, January 5, 1973

January 13, 2021SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE More Art Ephemera From The Last Century

January 5, 2021ART EPHEMERA FROM THE LAST CENTURY Telling Stories and Preserving History

December 28, 2020Looking Back Over The Last Twelve Months Some Favorite 2020 Newsletters

December 16, 2020A HISTORY OF JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT Through Vintage Cards, Posters and Publications

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THE FAST RISE OF METRO PICTURES
Some Early Announcement Cards 1980-1982

March 18, 2021
HELL IS YOU: THE NEW CINEMA 1979 A Poster By Christopher Wool, 1994

March 4, 2021
KIKI SMITH Two Unusual Works From The Early 1980s

February 25, 2021
TEA PARTY AT THE ALGONGUIN HOTEL A Gathering of Women Artists, 1991

February 18, 2021
PORTRAITS OF CLUB STARS Nightlife Ephemera – The 1980s

February 13, 2021
HARLEM RENAISSANCE PICTORIAL MAP One Hundred Years of History, Art, and Culture

February 4, 2021
ART EPHEMERA – ARTIST PORTRAITS William Pope. L, Judy Chicago, Julian Schnabel, Willem de Kooning

January 28, 2021
A LIFE IN ART CAPTURED IN EPHEMERA Edit DeAk, Critic and Curator (1948 – 2017)

January 20, 2021
A PERFORMANCE ART CLASSIC Chris Burden, 747, Los Angeles, January 5, 1973

January 13, 2021
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE More Art Ephemera From The Last Century

January 5, 2021
ART EPHEMERA FROM THE LAST CENTURY Telling Stories and Preserving History

December 28, 2020
Looking Back Over The Last Twelve Months Some Favorite 2020 Newsletters

December 16, 2020
A HISTORY OF JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT Through Vintage Cards, Posters and Publications