Pioneering gallerists Eugene and Dorothy Prakapas founded Prakapas Gallery at 19 East 71st Street in New York City in 1976. The gallery quickly became known for its bold curatorial vision and diverse programming, presenting new exhibitions every four weeks and maintaining an ever-evolving display of paintings, photographs, and works on paper. Photography, particularly work connected to the Bauhaus, was central to their vision, and the broader theme of European Modernism informed much of their work. Operating with limited resources, the Prakapases sought out overlooked artists and underexplored aspects of major figures’ careers, including favorites such as László Moholy-Nagy, Fernand Léger, Willi Baumeister, Albert Renger-Patzsch, Werner Mantz, and many more.
Before founding the gallery, Gene worked in publishing after graduating from Yale University, served in the Navy, and later attended Oxford as a Fulbright Scholar. Dorothy studied at City University of New York and the Fashion Institute of Technology, and worked in the fashion industry. Together, they built Prakapas Gallery into a destination for collectors seeking the rare and avant-garde—art selected and presented with intelligence, curiosity, and warmth.
Photo: Dorothy and Eugene Prakapas, Prakapas Gallery, 1970s
