Prominent Hartford Art Gallery To Close After Only 18 Months

Parkville Art Gallery

HARTFORD, CT — Citing an unsustainable business model, a prominent art gallery in Hartford, one that only opened in 2024, will close a year and a half later.

The Parkville Art Gallery, located at 1429 Park St. in Hartford, will close for good on March 1.

A closing reception, open to the public, will be held at the gallery on Friday, Feb. 20, from 6 to 9 p.m.

“We’ve met so many awesome people along the way,” said gallery director and artist-in-residence, Miguel Jose Matos. “We’re thankful that the gallery brought more eyes to local artists, and our only regret is that we won’t be able to offer the opportunity to others in the future.”

Parkville is Connecticut's largest private, commercial art gallery and event space, dedicated to the exhibition and support of local and regional artists, according to Parkville officials.

Since its grand opening in 2024, the gallery has curated and installed five exhibitions, featuring more than 50 local emerging and established artists.

Types of art featured in the 4,500 square foot space include abstract painting, photography, sculpture, woodworking, blown glass, upcycled art, and portraiture.

Invited artists are charged zero commission on the sale of their work.

Parkville Management,a Hartford-based property management company, owns and manages 1429 Park St., which is a mixed-use historic building just across the street from the company’s popular food hall, Parkville Market.

Parkville Art Gallery was created initially as an event space to generate a stream of revenue that would relieve artists of the financial responsibility that accompanies showing their work.

The gallery's imminent closure is a temporary blow to efforts to continue the development and revitalization of the Parkville neighborhood, with the food hall playing a major role still.

After exploring all available avenues of support, officials with the Parkville Art Gallery said the ":business model of supporting the gallery through events has proven to be unfeasible given current market conditions."

"Miguel wanted to provide the most he could to artists," said Amanda Roy, chief executive officer of the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

"Often, artists are always the ones carrying the cost. The team at Parkville Art Gallery was trying to change that."

For more information on the Parkville Art Gallery, click on this link.

From Sept. 3, 2024: 'New Art Gallery To Open In Hartford's Parkville Neighborhood'