Leda and the Swan by Fernando Botero

The Marlborough Gallery has a history as significant as the number of artists they represent. Their string of galleries can be found in Madrid, Barcelona, London, Monaco and two in New York. The 57th Street gallery, located at 40 West, has a covered walkway that is a block away from 6 ½ Avenue (yes, you read that right), and it has proven an ideal setting for exhibiting outdoors.

For pedestrians, this cut through from 57th to 56th Street gets us up close and personal with the works of major artists like Tom Otterness, Fernando Botero, Manolo Valdes, Jacques Lipchitz to name just a few.  We walked through “Marlborough Gallery Alley” this week, which extends into the lobby of 40 W. 57th Street and can be clearly seen from the street.

This should be called Marborough Gallery Alley. You can enter from either 56th Street or 57th Street.
You can enter from either 56th Street or 57th Street.
Manolo Valdes
‘Dama a Caballo VI’  Manolo Valdes

The impressive list of artists have work not only at the Gallery, but also throughout the city, such as the Chihuly glasswork located at the entrance to Asiate and the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental, the Manolo Valdes works that have run from Columbus Circle to 166th Stree tincluding the New York Botanical Garden, the Fernando Botero at Columbus Circle and more.

'Luna' Manolo Valdes
‘Luna’ by Manolo Valdes
'Standing Figures' Magdalena Abakanowicz
‘Standing Figures’ by Magdalena Abakanowicz

Looking back at the history of the area, West 57th Street has long been an artistic enclave, although it may not seem like it from the super tall skyscrapers going up. 130 West 57th Street was the home to writer William Dean Howells and novelist Theodore Dreiser. Childe Hassam had his studio there, Ray Charles rented there and the Rolling Stones practiced there. 57th Street is also the home to such iconic New York treasures as Carnegie Hall, the Art Students League, and The Russian Tea Room, and was the previous home of Steinway and Rizzoli.  West 57th Street is also the home to many fine art galleries, residing on the upper floors that have regular exhibits, most open to the public.

'Song of Songs' Jacques Lipchitz
‘Song of Songs’ by Jacques Lipchitz

The two mile stretch of 57th Street from west to east will take you from the CBS Broadcast Center at 10th Avenue, past numerous high-end shops and notable restaurants until it ends at Sutton Place. The Marlborough Gallery walkway is a must-see on your crosstown walking tour–a gift to pedestrians who happen upon it during their day.

Contact the author @AFineLyne.