Thomas Erben

Thomas Erben began his professional career in the art world in 1989, as a private dealer focusing on contemporary American art. In 1993, Lorraine O’Grady ’s show Photo Images 1980-91 was the first exhibition organized in his private space, eventually leading to the opening of Thomas Erben Gallery, first located on Broome Street in SoHo. The gallery’s inaugural exhibition in September of 1996 – the installation “Wet Night – Early Dawn – Scat Chant – Pilgrim’s Song” by then little-known artist Senga Nengudi – is now part of the permanent collection at the Dia Art Foundation, acquired in 2023.