Masterworks

Assembly Curated and Bruce Silverstein Gallery present Frank Paulin’s “Masterworks,” a collection of some of the most iconic early work from the artist’s archive. “Masterworks” features photographs captured in the 1950s on the streets of New York City. Many of these images by Paulin were featured in a 1957 solo exhibition at Helen Gee’s pioneering gallery and café, Limelight. Prominent publications including The New York Times and The Village Voice praised Paulin’s uncanny ability to perceive irony and record what they referred to as ‘poetic accidents.’ Paulin was a freelance fashion illustrator by day, but took to the streets in his free time to document subjects from all walks of life set against the stunning visual framework of advertisements, neon signs, and reflective store windows. This collection of well-known work recalls a distinct moment in American history, a moment captured with a passionate vision that keeps us looking.