254 East 10th Street | Block : 437 | Lot #9

Description & Building Alterations

The current six-story building was built in 1987 and has been used for apartments (25 units). The lot previously contained two buildings which were ultimately demolished. It is now owned by RMC Holding Group LLC.

Prior to demolition, 254 East 10th Street was home to FUN Gallery from 1982-1985. The gallery, founded by Bill Stelling and underground No Wave film actress Patti Astor at 229 East 11th Street in 1981, gave many graffiti artists – and, significantly, openly gay artists – the opportunity to host their first one-man shows, including Jean Michel Basquiat, Lee Quinones, SHARP, Keith Haring, Fab 5 Freddy, and Revolt. It also featured Dondi White, Jane Dickson, Futura 2000, and Lady Pink. These artists were free to rename and remake the gallery as they desired. “Fun Gallery” was originally the name of Keith Scharf’s show, which stuck thereafter. Unlike the established uptown galleries, which prioritized art buyers, the Fun Gallery welcomed artists, neighborhood residents, kids, and other passers-by. It also threw notorious parties. FUN Gallery did the delicate work of bringing hip-hop and graffiti artists into the gallery scene while maintaining their street cred, and was essential in connecting people to the art world, and art to the people.