Vito Schnabel's curated exhibition 'First Show/Last Show' at 190 Bowery, a landmark building recently acquired by Aby Rosen, was abruptly closed to the public just before its scheduled opening on May 16. The show, which would have been the first public access to the graffiti-laden former bank since 1966, was initially announced with a three-hour public opening, but organizers cited 'unprecedented demand' and switched to an appointment-only format from May 18 to 29. The exhibition features works by seven male artists: Joe Bradley, Dan Colen, Jeff Elrod, Ron Gorchov, Mark Grotjahn, Harmony Korine, and Julian Schnabel.
The closure matters because it highlights tensions between exclusivity and public access in the art world, especially at a historic downtown site. The show's all-white, all-male artist lineup had already drawn criticism from art writers and blogs, and the sudden shift to appointment-only viewing suggests the organizers were wary of large, uncontrolled crowds mixing with the wealthy elite. This incident underscores ongoing debates about diversity, privilege, and gatekeeping in contemporary art exhibitions.