Gochman Collection Opens Branchline Gallery for Native American Art
The new Westchester space showcases contemporary Indigenous works and provides artist studio facilities.
1New Cultural Hub Opens
The Gochman Family Collection officially opened Branchline on November 6 in Katonah, New York. Located in two historic storefronts near the local Metro-North station, the facility serves as both a gallery and a studio space. It aims to provide a permanent public home for the collection's extensive holdings of contemporary Native American art.
2Curatorial Leadership Team
The project is guided by a diverse team of professionals including Tlingit Creative Director Rachel Martin and Diné curator Shándíín Brown. Laura Phipps serves as the director for both the collection and the new Branchline space. Their collaborative approach emphasizes working with both Native and non-Native gallerists to shape the gallery's artistic vision.
3Extensive Collection Holdings
Since its establishment in 2021, the Gochman Family Collection has amassed over 800 individual works. The inaugural exhibition, titled Line Break, highlights pieces primarily drawn from this significant inventory. The collection focuses specifically on contemporary Indigenous art, ensuring that modern perspectives are represented alongside traditional themes within the new Westchester gallery space.
4Public Access Model
Branchline offers free admission to its galleries, removing financial barriers for local community members and visitors. Beyond exhibition spaces, the site features skylit artist studios and a dedicated community ceramics studio. The inclusion of apartments for invited artists further integrates the gallery into the local creative ecosystem, fostering direct engagement with contemporary creators.
5History of Lending
Before establishing this physical location, the Gochman Family Collection operated primarily as a lending institution. Over 260 works have been featured in more than 100 exhibitions at major venues, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Notably, the collection charges no loan fees to these institutions.
6Addressing Collection Risks
Joseph Pierce, a professor at Stony Brook University, notes that private collections often suffer from a lack of circulation. By making these works publicly accessible, the Gochman model mitigates the risk of art remaining hidden in private storage. This approach ensures that Indigenous works remain visible and available for broader academic and public study.
7Architectural Design Context
The renovation of the historic storefronts was managed by Elizabeth Roberts Architects. The design balances the preservation of the village's architectural character with the functional requirements of a modern art gallery and studio complex. This adaptive reuse project transforms a central transit-adjacent location into a vibrant center for contemporary art and community interaction.
8Historical Land Significance
The gallery is located in Katonah, a village named after a Munsee Lenape sachem. The land was originally purchased from Indigenous inhabitants by English colonists in 1680. By establishing a center for Native American art on this site, the project creates a meaningful connection between the region's colonial history and contemporary Indigenous cultural expression.