Art Basel has named Paula Cooper Gallery as the first recipient of its newly established Gallery Legacy Award, a distinction recognising galleries that have demonstrated long-term commitment to artists and to the broader cultural ecosystems they help sustain. Founded in New York in 1968, Paula Cooper Gallery has played a key role in shaping the contemporary art landscape, championing generations of influential artists through a programme rooted in artistic excellence and public discourse.
The award was presented during the 2026 Art Basel Awards celebrations in Basel, selected by an international jury of collectors, patrons and industry leaders. As part of its mentorship component, Paula Cooper Gallery nominated New York-based Chapter NY as a next-generation gallery to support, with Art Basel contributing up to $50,000 towards the gallery’s participation in the 2027 edition of the fair.
Introduced alongside the broader Art Basel Awards, the Gallery Legacy Award in particular seeks to recognise the overlooked role galleries play in building artistic careers and shaping markets.
