Agnes Keller
Founder & Director, Agnes Keller Gallery | New York City
Agnes Keller is a revered figure in the contemporary art world, known for her discerning eye, fearless curation, and unwavering commitment to artistic innovation. Now in her late 60s, Agnes has spent over four decades shaping the cultural landscape of New York City through her gallery, Agnes Keller Gallery, nestled in the heart of Chelsea’s vibrant art district.
Born and raised in Vienna, Austria, Agnes was immersed in the arts from a young age, the daughter of a classical pianist and a textile designer. She studied Art History at the Sorbonne in Paris before moving to New York in the late 1970s, where she began her career as a curatorial assistant at the Museum of Modern Art. Her passion for emerging voices and boundary-pushing aesthetics led her to open her own gallery in 1989.
Agnes Keller Gallery quickly gained a reputation for championing bold, concept-driven artists from around the globe. Under Agnes’s leadership, the gallery has launched the careers of several now-renowned contemporary artists and has been a fixture at major international art fairs including Art Basel, Frieze, and The Armory Show.
Agnes is known for her sharp intellect, signature silver bob, and a curatorial style that blends elegance with provocation. She is a frequent panelist at art symposiums, a mentor to young curators, and a passionate advocate for underrepresented voices in the art world. When she’s not at the gallery, she can be found hosting intimate salons in her Upper West Side apartment or tending to her rooftop garden with her two rescue greyhounds, Matisse and Luna.