Ellen Rand, Founder of Williamsburg Gallery Art 101, Dies at 75

Ellen Rand, the founder of Art 101 gallery in Williamsburg, died at the age of 75 on August 19th at her home located behind the gallery. As a painter, she created this venue in 2004 to showcase the work of over a hundred artists, particularly focusing on mid-career talents who were not widely recognized. Her curatorial style emphasized thoughtful installations in a serene, light-filled space, contrasting with conventional white cube or industrial loft galleries. Last spring, her paintings were featured at Figureworks alongside works made in collaboration with her grandmother, Ellen Emmet Rand, an acclaimed portrait artist from the early 1900s. A memorial service is scheduled for October 15 at 2pm at the San Damiano Mission in Williamsburg, followed by a reception and exhibition of her art at Art 101. Donations in her memory can be directed to BARC Animal Shelter or the Brooklyn Latin School. Rand’s gallery was known for its modest atmosphere and its mission to uplift artists.