Object_ify 139 Leaves Essex Street For The Internet

Bad news for the lovers of Gotham kitsch and affordable art, Object_ify 139 is ending its operations in the heart of the Lower East Side after two years. The petite and almost invisible boutique nestled between a liquor store and Patacon Pisao was spearheaded by School of Visual Arts graduate Maria Candanoza after replacing a mobile joint. Its last business day on Essex Street ends this Friday.

While the reason for its closure has not been made public, Candanoza announced that Object_ify 139 will continue to cater to its audience on the world wide web. "Our mission still stands and we are certain we will stay in your life. Please follow us in our next step: our website," Candanoza stated.

For locals, Object_ify 139's history placed it a cut above other art galleries due to the curatorial space it afforded upcoming artists who struggled to make their mark in New York City. In an interview with Daughter Runs, Candanoza said that she was inspired to run Object_ify 139 so she could "create a space that supported local, emerging artists with affordable prices so that people could actually buy their work."

But not all is lost. You can personally say farewell to the boutique this Friday the 13th at its closing party from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at 139 Essex St.

Image via Google Maps