Kasmin Gallery rooftop beekeeping produces 100 jars of honey yearly

Kasmin Gallery in New York has integrated beekeeping into its rooftop sculpture garden, maintaining five hives that produce approximately 100 jars of honey annually. The project began in 2020 with three hives and has expanded, with honey labels designed by gallery artists including Mark Ryden and Daniel Gordon. The initiative, developed in collaboration with Best Bees, includes talks and honey tastings for staff. Gallery director Nicholas Olney noted that after the pandemic, the rooftop became wild and untamed, leading to a decision to let nature take over with help from gardeners, architects, and landscapers. The rooftop garden is visible from the High Line park but not always open to the public. Starting September 4, during autumn Art Week, Kasmin Gallery will host solo exhibitions by Nengi Omuku (her first in New York), a focus on Dorothea Tanning's late collages, and introspective landscapes by Matvey Levenstein. The beekeeping is part of a broader effort to make the rooftop more hospitable to birds, insects, and local flora. In Italy, chef Giuseppe Iannotti recently installed hives on the roof of Gallerie d'Italia in Naples.