A significant number of New York art galleries, including major players like Pace Gallery, David Zwirner, and Marian Goodman, will close on January 30 to join a nationwide general strike protesting expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. The strike is a response to allegations of federal overreach, including the use of deadly force against protestors and the detention of Native Americans, which have fueled widespread outrage.
The coordinated action marks a rare and rapid mobilization of the typically apolitical commercial art sector, drawing comparisons to historic activist efforts like Visual AIDS's Day With(out) Art. Gallery owners cite solidarity with artists, staff, and vulnerable communities, framing the closures as a necessary act of political engagement and a stand against policies they view as eroding constitutional rights and enabling autocracy.