Holly Solomon Celebrated in Dual-Gallery Exhibition Showcasing Her Eclectic Influence on 1970s Art

From January 9 to February 8, 2014, Pavel Zoubok Gallery and Mixed Greens co-presented "Hooray for Hollywood" at 531 West 26th Street in Manhattan. The exhibition highlighted Holly Solomon's three-decade impact as a collector and dealer who championed stylistic pluralism and emerging women artists. Over 40 artists were featured, including portraits of Solomon by Christo, Arch Connelly, Robert Kushner, and Robert Mapplethorpe. Works by Brad Davis, Judy Pfaff, Ned Smyth, and others illustrated her eclectic taste. Solomon began collecting in the 1960s, acquiring Pop Art through dealers like Richard Bellamy and Leo Castelli, and later embraced conceptual art with guidance from John Gibson. Her first purchase was an Andy Warhol Brillo Box from Eleanor Ward. With husband Horace's support, she transitioned from aspiring actress to influential dealer, opening 98 Greene Street in 1969, designed by Gordon Matta-Clark, and later galleries at 392 West Broadway and 724 Fifth Avenue. Solomon promoted artists such as Laurie Anderson, William Wegman, and Kim MacConnell, and was a founding member of ARTable. Her flamboyant personal style and vibrant parties defined her galleries as extensions of her avant-garde sensibility.