Benjamin Galleries Records

The Benjamin Galleries opened in Chicago in 1939 under the direction of Chicago dentist Dr. Benjamin Krohn (1904-1957), an accomplished painter in his own right. Dr. Krohn’s goal was to sell good art in a broad price range in an informal setting. To this end, the Gallery’s first location was in Dr. Krohn’s apartment at 222 E. Ontario, and later moved to his second apartment at 154 E. Superior Street. Dr. Krohn initially exhibited School of Paris artists; at the outset of World War II, he began to feature local artists, including Gertrude Abercrombie, Ellen Lanyon, Eleanor Coen, Aaron Bohrod, and Roland Ginzel. After Krohn’s death his wife Neva continued to operate the gallery, now at 900 N. Michigan Avenue, and exhibited established American painters and sculptors until she sold the business in 1979. This collection includes papers and photographs documenting the operations of the gallery as well as correspondence with artists represented by the business. View finding aid. Collection access:Collections may be accessed in the Franke Reading Room of the Research Center at The Art Institute of Chicago, by appointment only. For further information, consult the FAQ. Finding aids by subjectBrowse all finding aidsBrowse images and mediaOral histories Contact the Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives:archives@artic.edu