Crush Curatorial

Crush Curatorial was an artist-run gallery founded by Karen Hesse Flatow in 2016. In 2019, the gallery expanded into a new gallery space in the West Chelsea Arts Building as HESSE FLATOW.

Flatow collaborates with artists and curators to execute projects outside the traditional gallery structure within the context of her studio practice. Flatow received her MBA and MFA from Columbia University and attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Her curatorial focus is on collaborative projects and emerging artists, creating events and experiences that engage the artistic community, viewers and makers. In addition to nurturing emerging artists, Crush worked with young curatorial talents, often giving them their first experience curating a show in a commercial setting.

The gallery has been instrumental in fostering important dialogue between artists and those that have influenced their work. Crush’s curators have led conversation series, written text, and curated shows that are central to the gallery’s program. In addition to our work with Karen Flatow, Hayworth had the unique opportunity to collaborate with curator Alisok Karasyk.

Hayworth collaborated with Crush Curatorial for three seminal exhibitions and their respective programs, including: Orchid.Seasons by Matthew Morrocco in 2018, One Blue Eye Two Servings by Nicole Won Hee Maloof and Tammy Nguyen, and I’m Your Man by Rebecca Warlick.