In May—when New York’s art scene reaches its peak with major fairs like Frieze, Independent, and NADA lighting up the city—GOCA by Garde simultaneously participated in Future Fair and held the solo exhibition Gei-Kaku Ichinyo by Iki Minami at its Chelsea gallery space. The opening reception unfolded as one of the season’s true highlights, radiating elegance and creative energy.
Outside the gallery, dressed-up New Yorkers steadily gathered, bringing a sense of sophistication to the early summer night air. Located directly beneath the High Line, the clean, architectural white space began to fill with not only collectors, gallerists, curators, and artists fresh from the art fairs, but also curious locals with a taste for the new. English filled the air, occasionally interwoven with Japanese, underscoring GOCA’s growing global presence.
One particularly striking moment came when a group—clearly just back from Frieze, judging by the tote bags they carried—stepped into the space and broke into smiles of surprise and delight. Though they paused in front of the artworks, it was clear they were equally captivated by the spatial layout and the atmosphere as a whole. The sound of clinking glasses and animated conversations about art filled the space, offering a relaxed and inviting counterpoint to the more high-strung energy typical of art fairs.
Numerous New York-based affiliates of GOCA attended as well, with conversations emerging around new relationships between corporate culture in Midtown and contemporary art. From Japan, department store professionals and collectors with personal ties to Minami also made appearances, drawn not only to the works but also to the artist’s vision and his ongoing exploration of the “core of art.”
That evening, Minami’s exhibition transcended the traditional framework of simply “viewing art.” Through a thoughtful spatial composition within a luxurious setting, it served more as a salon—an immersive experience of contemporary New York. It became a space where people connected, where words and glances were exchanged—radiating a gentle energy that perhaps reflected the kind of engagement and art this city now longs for. The soft undercurrent of Eastern philosophy that seeks harmony over dichotomy—so central to Minami’s practice—seemed to quietly fill the space.
To share a single space that transcends culture, language, and values—Minami’s opening night embodied that ideal.
Gei-Kaku Ichinyo (Art Core Oneness)
Exhibition Period: May 8 (Thu) – June 28 (Sat), 2025
Venue: 515 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011
Website: goca.gallery
Instagram: @goca.garde
Pingback: GOCA by Garde – Inside GARDE’s New York Art Space and Its Latest Showcase - Garde Design Magazine