The Smoking Section
This November, Gotham Gallery presents The Smoking Section, a group exhibition celebrating the ashtray as both ritual object and cultural symbol.
For Gotham’s first commissioned group show, over 35 artists and designers were invited to consider this connection and produce their own interpretation of this everyday object. The result is an exhilarating, inspired collection of one of a kind ashtrays ranging from functional to conceptual; playful to profound.
Among the participating artists are Nicole Eisenman and A.L. Steiner (Ridykeulous), known for their incisive, queer feminist collaborations; Daniel Gordon, celebrated for his distinctive hybrid of digital and sculptural work; Mika Tajima, whose multidisciplinary practice investigates the intersections of technology, control, and perception; Anna Sew Hoy, recipient of the Anonymous Was a Woman award; Deborah Czeresko, acclaimed glass artist and winner of Netflix’s Blown Away, whose work pushes the boundaries of craft and gender; Math Bass, celebrated for geometric abstractions and performance-driven installations exhibited at MoMA PS1 and the Hammer Museum; and Peter Shire, founding member of the Memphis Group, whose playful ceramics and design objects bridge fine art and functional form.
Cannabis and art have an intrinsic connection, present in cultural movements throughout history. From the countercultural revolution of the 1960s and 70s to the conceptual art practices of today, cannabis has long fueled creativity and expanded consciousness. Artists, musicians, and writers alike have embraced it as a catalyst for bold, experimental work. The Smoking Section continues this lineage, exploring the enduring relationship between cannabis and creative expression through a diverse range of materials and perspectives.
Since its inception, Gotham has maintained a robust art program committed to showcasing emerging artists on The Mezz, the exhibition space at their flagship. Gotham’s Chelsea location, the retailer’s fourth, opened in April of 2024 with a full gallery space called Gotham Gallery. Its programming has ranged from the inaugural exhibition The World Is Yours, a collaboration between legendary rapper Nas, photographer Danny Hastings, and design studio Objects Are By, to a recent pop-up takeover by artist Derrick Adams. With The Smoking Section, Gotham continues to fulfill its mission of championing the creative dialogue between cannabis and contemporary culture.
The Smoking Section opens November 6th
Gotham Gallery, Gotham Chelsea
146 10th Ave at 19th Street
Participating Artists:
Daniel Gordon, Ridykelous (Nicole Eisenman + A.L Steiner), Richard Haining, Tura Oliveira, Jake Clark, Piera Bochner, OKS, Dean Roper, Shauna Steinbach, Mika Tajima, Souleye Fall, Kayla Mattes, Lerone Wilson, Emma Safir, Alma Berrow, Sasha de Lotbiniere, John Gill,Ford Bostwick, Elise McMahon, Jack Rabbit Studios, Brent Owens, Stefanie Haining, Anna Sew Hoy, Math Bass, Paula Grief, Gab Bois, Max Mustardo, Dustin Barzell, Rachelle Sawatsky, Carl Williamson, Recreation Center Ceramics (Jo), Grace Horan, Peter Shire, Jennifer Xiao, Kate Rusek, Angie Martell, Luka Carter, Deborah Czeresko, Studio SSI, Stefanie Boyd-Berks, Jackie Zdrojeski, Lauryn Siegel, Rachel Berks, Caos Motē, Christian Moses