Gagosian Runs Back Duchamp’s Greatest “Readymades”

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Summary

  • Gagosian inaugurates its new gallery at 980 Madison Avenue with a showcase of replicated “readymades” by pioneering French conceptual artist Marcel Duchamp
  • The exhibition runs parallel to a historic Duchamp retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, the first of its kind in over 50 years

New York City is currently experiencing a surge of interest in Marcel Duchamp. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) just hosted the first major U.S. exhibition of his work in 50 years, and now the Gagosian gallery is celebrating the opening of its new location on the Upper East Side with a display of Duchamp’s famous “readymade” sculptures and objects.

Running from April 25th to June 27th, this exhibition connects back to Marcel Duchamp’s famous work, “Bicycle Wheel.” Over time, many of Duchamp’s original artworks were lost or damaged. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of his first “readymade” sculpture, Duchamp and art dealer Arturo Schwarz made 14 replicas. These replicas were first shown in the United States in 1965 at the Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery, located on the Upper East Side – in the very same building where the current exhibition is held.

The exhibition features recreations of iconic works like “Fountain” (based on the 1917 original), “L.H.O.O.Q.” (based on the 1919 original), “Porte-bouteilles (Bottle Dryer)” (based on the 1914 original), and “Boîte-en-valise” (created from 1935–49, with contents from 1935–41). Notably, the 1964 recreation of “Roue de bicyclette (Bicycle Wheel)” is the only surviving version of this work not held by a major museum or institution.

Gagosian’s new gallery is located very close to its old Upper East Side space, which Bloomberg Philanthropies purchased last year. By leasing only the ground floor, Gagosian has maintained a presence at 980 Madison Avenue for the past 35 years.

Marcel Duchamp revolutionized art by stepping away from traditional craftsmanship and incorporating everyday, pre-made objects. This move shifted the focus from skill to ideas, influencing later art movements like Dada, minimalism, pop art, and Fluxus. Gallery owner Larry Gagosian explained, “Duchamp was the perfect artist to launch our new gallery at 980 Madison Avenue – he actually exhibited there over sixty years ago.”

An exhibition dedicated to Marcel Duchamp begins tomorrow, April 25th, in New York City. You can also see a comprehensive look at his work in a concurrent retrospective currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

Gagosian Upper East Side
980 Madison Ave,
New York, NY 10075

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2026-04-26 01:29