Gochman Collection Builds a Home for Native Art in Westchester
The private collection opened its Branchline location in Katonah as a way to bring Native art into public view, though questions linger about its engagement with the local Lenape community.
Katonah, New York - A unique gallery and studio space, Branchline, opened to the public on November 6, offering a dedicated home for contemporary Native American art. The Gochman Family Collection (GFC), formed in 2021, has amassed over 800 works, primarily through support from various stakeholders including gallerists, artists, and curators.
Rachel Martin (Tlingít), Shándíín Brown (Diné), and Laura Phipps serve as key figures in the collection's growth. Designed by Elizabeth Roberts Architects, Branchline occupies two historic storefronts near Katonah's Metro-North station, featuring free-admission galleries, artist studios, a community ceramics studio, and artist apartments.
Branchline operates on a lending model, with over 260 pieces exhibited in over 100 institutions worldwide, charging no loan fees. This approach addresses a common issue in private collecting, where works may not circulate widely. Professor Joseph Pierce (Cherokee) highlights this concern, stating that collecting does not guarantee exhibition opportunities, risking isolation of the art.
Written by urgent.news from Hyperallergic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
