THE PAINTING CENTER

Name

THE PAINTING CENTER

Legal name

The Painting Center

Website

https://thepaintingcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Gallery Services

NAICS

Art Dealers (459920)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

Keywords

• Contemporary art gallery
• Nonprofit art exhibitions
• Artist membership programs
• Juried art competitions
• Painting exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership program providing artists with exhibition opportunities, access to programs like Art File, and community benefits.
2. Art Sales Commission: The gallery takes a 35% commission on artwork sales. The annual fundraising benefit showcases works from members and invited artists where sales benefit both the organization and participating artists.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals supporting the nonprofit's mission to present exhibitions and maintain free public programming.
4. Application Fees: Fees charged for juried exhibition applications, such as the $40 application fee for the Under 30 Under Pressure exhibition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Painting Center is a nonprofit, artist-founded gallery in New York City dedicated to contemporary painting. It presents solo, group, and juried exhibitions in its Main Gallery and Project Room spaces, and supports artists through a paid annual membership program, the Art File submission database, juried competitions, artist critique services, and an annual fundraising benefit. The gallery takes a 35% commission on artwork sold and is supported by tax-deductible donations.

Product overview

The Painting Center is a nonprofit, artist-founded gallery in New York City dedicated to advancing experimental approaches to painting. Founded in 1993, it operates primarily through two physical exhibition spaces—the Main Gallery and Project Room—presenting a diverse portfolio of exhibitions including solo artist shows, curated group exhibitions, and juried competitions. The organization supports artists through multiple programs including membership, the Art File submission system, artist critique services, and curatorial opportunities. Annual fundraising benefits enable collectors to purchase works while supporting the gallery. The center also extends its presence through partnerships with Artsy for online exhibitions and art fairs like Future Fair. The gallery has presented over 800 exhibitions and championed thousands of artists over its 30+ year history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Artist Virtual Consultation or Critique: A curated program offering virtual consultations and critiques for artists' work.
• Annual Fundraising Benefit
• Under 30 Under Pressure
• Final Project

Products and services

• Annual Membership Program Annual paid membership offering benefits including exhibition opportunities, members gallery access, participation in the gallery community, and inclusion in fundraising benefit programming. Targeted at artists working in contemporary painting and related media.
• Art File Program Paid annual artist database and submission program ($100/year) that allows artists to be considered for future exhibitions and included in gallery representation. Targeted at artists seeking ongoing visibility and exhibition opportunities.
• Juried Exhibitions Program Competitive juried exhibition programs open to artists who apply, such as the annual Under 30 Under Pressure exhibition, curated by invited curators. Applicants pay a $40 application fee for up to three images. Targeted at artists under 30 and broader applicant pools.
• Annual Fundraising Benefit Annual benefit exhibition showcasing works by members and invited artists, hosted on Artsy, with sales benefitting both the organization and participating artists. The gallery takes a 35% commission on artwork sold. Targeted at collectors and supporters of the nonprofit.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 800 exhibitions presented since founding in 1993
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Art Students League of New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2026Annual partnership showcasing work of artists who have completed the Certificate Program at the Art Students League of New York. The 2026 exhibition features six artists: Richie Chen, Lily Lu, Francis Nguyen, Fabian Pearl, Akiko Takai, and Xiya Wang.
• Future FairminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 May 2026The Painting Center presents 'Between Surface and Space' at Future Fair 2026, a curated booth featuring twelve artists exploring evolving possibilities of painting.
• Various CuratorsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2019The Painting Center partners with external curators for thematic group exhibitions. The 25th Anniversary exhibition and programs like 'Cultivate your own Garden' (curated by Patricia Spergel & Shazzi Thomas) exemplify these partnerships.
• ArtsycoreTechnology or IntegrationArtsy is the online exhibition partner for The Painting Center, hosting virtual exhibitions and enabling artwork sales. Exhibitions such as 'Under 30 Under Pressure' are available both in-person and on Artsy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Swiss Institute: A nonprofit contemporary art institution in NYC's East Village that presents exhibitions and public programs. Comparable to The Painting Center as a nonprofit art space with a curatorial, mission-driven exhibition model, though it operates on a larger institutional scale.
• The Kitchen: A nonprofit arts organization in Chelsea presenting visual art, performance, and video. Directly comparable as a Chelsea-based nonprofit gallery space, though it spans multiple disciplines and performance art, unlike The Painting Center's painting-only focus.
• SculptureCenter: A nonprofit contemporary art gallery in Long Island City, Queens, dedicated to sculpture and installation. Comparable to The Painting Center as a single-discipline nonprofit art space with a focused curatorial mission, presenting emerging and established artists through rotating exhibitions.
• The Drawing Center: A nonprofit art space in NYC's SoHo dedicated specifically to drawing as an art form. Closely comparable to The Painting Center in mission structure (artist-centered nonprofit gallery, single-disciplinary visual-arts focus, membership and exhibition-based programming) and a direct peer in the niche-art nonprofit gallery category.
• BRIC: A nonprofit arts and media organization in Brooklyn presenting contemporary visual art, performing arts, and community programming. Comparable as a NYC nonprofit presenting rotating exhibitions and supporting emerging and mid-career artists, with a similar membership and event-driven model.
• White Columns: One of NYC's oldest alternative nonprofit art spaces, supporting emerging and under-recognized artists. Comparable to The Painting Center as an artist-run nonprofit gallery with a Chelsea presence, rotating exhibitions, and a curatorial rather than commercial orientation.
• Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts: A nonprofit arts service organization in NYC supporting independent artists and curatorial projects. Comparable to The Painting Center as an artist-focused nonprofit that provides studio and exhibition opportunities through a member-driven model.
• Artists Space: A nonprofit contemporary art organization in NYC that presents exhibitions, projects, and publications. Directly comparable to The Painting Center as a nonprofit gallery in NYC exhibiting contemporary work, but with a broader multi-disciplinary focus rather than painting-specific.

Others

• Artsy: The online art marketplace that is also a key distribution partner for The Painting Center. While not a competitor, Artsy is the most directly connected peer: it provides the digital sales and exhibition infrastructure that allows the gallery to reach collectors globally and is a structural enabler of its business model.

Broad incumbents

• New Museum: A major nonprofit contemporary art museum in NYC presenting established and emerging artists. Comparable in mission (nonprofit contemporary art in NYC) but operates as a much larger broad incumbent, with a multi-disciplinary focus, larger permanent staff, and museum rather than gallery scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thepaintingcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-painting-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/thepaintingcenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about THE PAINTING CENTER