IsREAL Gallery..WasReal Only In the Mind's Eye

Kevin Concannon explains the concept of Yoko and Tony Cox's IsReal Gallery in his chapter titled "Nothing IsReal: Yoko Ono's Advertising Art" in the comprehensive boo, YES Yoko Ono:

"In spring of 1965, Ono placed advertisements for her conceptual gallery IsReal in two issues of The New York Arts Calendar, a magazine of gallery listings.  The IsReal Gallery ads offered two 'events' by the artist: Circle Event and Hole Event...Ono conceived of the idea of IsReal Gallery when Ivan Karp, director of Leo Castelli Gallery, declined to exhibit Ono's Circle Painting on the grounds that his gallery was interested in work that was 'fiercely Western and concrete - not materialistic mind you - perish the thought - but terribly concrete.'  

"While the physical gallery did not exist, Ono did use the name to sell her art. A flyer from 1965, for example, offers a 'beautifully framed portrait of Mona Lisa by Yoko Ono' for five dollars. Interested parties are advised to make out and mail checks for that amount to IsReal Gallery at 87 Christopher Street."

87 Christopher Street was the location of Yoko's apartment.



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