The Art Gallery as Venue

Five of Chelsea's most wedding-receptive art spaces

• By Yael Kohen
• Published Winter 2006

1. The Aurora Gallery

515 W. 29th St.; 212-643-1700
This sewing mill turned art gallery has stark white walls, exposed brick, and tin ceilings. It was used by Radiohead for an end-of-tour party, and the space is excellently equipped to handle weddings and events, thanks to a six-speaker sound system, an eleven-foot dry bar, and a 2,000-square-foot outdoor patio (from $1,300).

2. George Billis Gallery

511 W. 25th St.; 212-645-2621
A ten-year-old ground-floor gallery, the cavernous space features two main galleries-each of which are 735 square feet-with a smaller back room that's ideal for installing your caterer and other vendors during set-up. The square front room works well as a wet bar or lounge area for your D.J. (from $1,500).

3. Baumgartner Gallery

522 W. 24th St.; 212 242-4514
This 1,700-square-foot gallery is divided into two rooms and can fit up to 200 people. The main room has high ceilings and white walls (from $3,000). Nota bene: Couples are required to have a gallery employee present at their reception for an additional $300 fee.

4. Maya Stendhall Gallery

545 W. 20th St.; 212 366-1549
The cognoscenti hobnob at this 4,000-square-foot gallery whose recent shows have included Andy Warhol and Hans Richter. The space has one rectangular room and two smaller rooms off to the side. It can hold up to 300 people (from $5,000).

5. Denis Bibro Fine Art Gallery

529 W. 20th St.; 212 647-7030
This 2,000-square-foot, fourth-floor space is mostly contiguous-save a few niches and inlets that make for romantic nooks, and a partition dividing the exhibits that can be removed. It has views of the Hudson and the white glass Frank Gehry building. There's also a separate room in back.