The Tribeca space known as 52 Walker has officially transitioned to a David Zwirner gallery space. The change has already occurred, though it has not been publicly announced.
The gallery's website currently lists the space as closed "for installation" with no indication of the mandate shift. Nicole Eisenman's recent exhibition marked the final show at 52 Walker as a standalone project. The transition follows Ebony L. Haynes's promotion last fall to global head of curatorial projects at Zwirner, a newly created position that extends her reach across the gallery's international footprint.
The shift marks the end of 52 Walker as a dedicated physical space. "It's now a David Zwirner gallery space," Haynes told ARTnews. "That shift has already happened following the closure of Nicole Eisenman's exhibition earlier this month. The next show here will be an Isa Genzken show titled 'Vacation,' which I am curating, and it will open in March."
Haynes described the change as organic evolution rather than closure. "Everything needs to evolve, and I want to be able to take on new projects and opportunities. 52 Walker was in one location for four years and will now be more global and nomadic."
Operational Structure
52 Walker will continue as a nomadic, project-based initiative under Haynes's direction, with exhibitions staged across Zwirner's global locations in New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Hong Kong. Shows will be identified as "52W" presentations. The former 52 Walker location will be programmed like other David Zwirner spaces, presenting work by both gallery artists and non-gallery artists without a separate curatorial mandate. The original team remains part of the project and will continue working on 52W shows and other curatorial projects.
Founding Context
52 Walker opened in October 2021 at 52 Walker Street in a five-story landmark building previously occupied by M1-5 Lounge. Selldorf Architects designed the renovation of the space, which features cast-iron columns, original wood floors, and tin ceilings. David Zwirner framed the space as a response to employment inequities within the commercial art world.
Haynes was granted full autonomy over programming, staffing, and vision, with the freedom to operate at a remove from the gallery's primary commercial engine. The space operated on a kunsthalle model with extended exhibition timelines, presenting four shows annually that ran approximately three months each rather than typical four-week cycles. Works displayed were available for purchase, but the gallery did not represent the exhibiting artists.
Exhibition History
Over its four-year run, 52 Walker mounted intellectually demanding programming that paired historical figures with contemporary artists. The space featured an all-Black staff and maintained a minimal social media presence to encourage in-person visits. Programming included an on-site circulating library, the "Clarion" publication series, and extended visitor engagement opportunities. Artists exhibited included Kandis Williams (inaugural show), Arthur Jafa, Nora Turato, Tau Lewis, Nikita Gale, Tiona Nekkia McClodden, Bob Thompson, Julius Eastman with Glenn Ligon, Lotus L. Kang, and Nicole Eisenman (final exhibition as standalone space). Haynes's recent and upcoming projects in her expanded role include Raymond Saunders in Los Angeles, Isa Genzken in New York, "Let Us All Be Citizens 2" in London, and Tau Lewis in Los Angeles.
Update (July 9, 2026): George Condo has since returned to Hauser & Wirth less than a year after leaving.
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