Helen Gee

Helen Gee (1919–2004) was an American art gallery owner, co-owner of the Limelight gallery in New York City.[1][2]

She was born as Helen Charlotte Wimmer in Jersey City, New Jersey, and went to New York when she was sixteen to live with renowned modernist painter, Yun Gee.[3] They were married in 1942. They had a daughter, artist Li-lan, in 1943 and were subsequently divorced in 1947.[1][3] She later married Kevin Sullivan, but that ended in divorce.[1] Gee taught herself transparency retouching for a living.[1] In the 1950s, she came across a photography show at the Museum of Modern Art, which inspired her interest in photography.[1]

In 1954 she opened New York's first important post-war photography gallery along with her sister and brother in-law, the Limelight, on Seventh Avenue South and Barrow Street.[2] Although the gallery closed in 1961 due to financial pressure, it had pioneered sales of photographs as art.[2]

In the late 1970s Gee worked as a photography curator, lecturer and writer.[1]

In 1997 she published her memoir of her time with the Limelight, itself titled Limelight: A Memoir.[2][4]

Gee's gallery was inside a coffee shop, and the Village Voice's first Obie Awards ceremony was held at her café.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Loke, Margaret, "Helen Gee, Pioneer in Sales of Photos as Art, Dies at 85", The New York Times, 13 October 2004, accessed on 21 November 2013
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Aletti, Vince, "Helen Gee 1919–2004", Village Voice (New York City), 12 October 2004, accessed on 21 November 2013
  3. 1 2 Staff, "Helen Gee, 85; Her Gallery Pioneered Sales of Photographs as Art", Los Angeles Times, 14 October 2004, accessed on 21 November 2013
  4. ↑ Tallmer, Jerry, "Helen Gee, 85, proprietor of famed Limelight cafe", The Villager (New York City), 20–26 October 2004, accessed on 12 November 2013
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