Four Walls (artist forum)

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Four Walls was an artist‑run event space that operated from 1984 to 2000. It hosted one‑night activities that combined exhibitions with conversations, talks, screenings, and performances, bringing together artists and non‑artists to discuss art in real time. The project had two phases: in Hoboken, New Jersey (1984–1988) and later in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint/Williamsburg area (1991–2000). It was informal, self‑sufficient, and deliberately outside the commercial art market.

Instead of solo shows, Four Walls favored two‑person or group exhibitions, often paired with a public discussion. It also organized open shows where many artists could participate, and programs like Blender Nights and the Slide and Film Club. The space worked with other galleries and institutions, including White Columns in 1988 and MoMA PS1’s Seven Rooms/ Seven Shows project in the early 1990s, and even produced a mini‑model of its space for that project. In Brooklyn, the core team grew to include Michael Ballou, Adam Simon, Amy Sillman, and Claire Pentecost, making Four Walls a key hub in the 1990s Greenpoint/Williamsburg art scene and a notable example of collaborative, experimental art that challenged traditional roles in the art world.