Kennedy Galleries

Kennedy Galleries is an art gallery in Manhattan in New York City.[1] Founded in 1874, it is one of the oldest art galleries in the United States. At its 1974 centennial, The New York Times described the gallery as "one of the most important galleries anywhere specializing in American historical art."[1]

It was founded by Hermann Wunderlich in 1874 under the name of Hermann Wunderlich & Co.[1] In its early years, it was the first American dealer for the paintings of James MacNeill Whistler, who spent a good deal of time at the gallery.[1]

When Wunderlich died in 1892, Edward G. Kennedy took over the gallery, whose name was changed in 1912 to Kennedy & Co.[1] The gallery's new name was at least in part a response to rising anti-German sentiment in the United States in the lead-up to World War I.[1] Kennedy retired in 1916, whereupon Herman Wunderlich became the gallery's senior partner until his death in 1951. The gallery changed its name to Kennedy Galleries in 1952.

The gallery has long specialized in representational art. During the 1950s the Society of American Graphic Artists held their annual exhibitions at the Kennedy Galleries.

Lawrence Fleischman became a partner in the gallery in 1966, and in the same year, the gallery moved to a new location on 56th Street.[2] For its 1974 centennial, it then moved to a new space on 57th Street.[2]

In 1976 the gallery held an exhibit of Alaskan masters. R. T. Wallen was one of only two living artists represented at that exhibit.[3]

In 1994, the gallery moved to 730 Fifth Avenue.[2] In 2005, the gallery closed its gallery space but continued to operate as a private dealership.[2]

Martha J. Fleischman is president of the Kennedy Galleries.