About Don Stone Jr Contemporary Art

Mission Statement

 

It is the mission of Don Stone Jr Contemporary Art to promote a diverse and creative collection of artists.  In addition, the Gallery is especially interested in the work of underrepresented artists and will strive to provide them with a platform.

 

 

Gallery History

 

Don Stone Jr Contemporary Art was founded in 1979 by Donald Harley (a/k/a Don Stone Jr) and Thomas Madigan.  In 1980, the name was changed to the Harley-Madigan Gallery, and it focused on exhibiting the work of contemporary artists of New York and New England. 

 

In 1983, Donald Harley was named curator of the Evelyn Sharp Collection, a position he held until 1997.  Aware of a possible conflict of interest, it was decided to put the Gallery on hiatus.  As he anticipated a return one day to the role of private art dealer, Donald Harley continued to acquire contemporary art, which today forms the nucleus of the Gallery’s holdings.

 

 

Don Harley – Owner and Curator of Don Stone Jr Contemporary Art

 

A Massachusetts native, Don Harley was born and lived the first fifteen years of his life as Don Stone Jr.  Adoption by an aunt and uncle changed his last name and he has been known as Don Harley ever since.  In chosing the name of Don Stone Jr for the gallery, he is acknowledging his heritage and is paying homage to his birth father, Don Stone Sr, one of the people who inspired him to start the gallery thirty-one years ago.  Don Harley graduated from Worcester State College with a B.A. in History and a minor in Speech and Theater.  After graduation, he moved to New York City’s Upper West Side and has called the area home ever since.

 

Don Harley’s career as an art professional began in 1978 when he became the receptionist of the Shepherd Gallery.  He was later promoted to Registrar and then Manager.  During his tenure at Shepherd, which lasted until 1981, he was technical editor on all exhibition catalogs.

 

Simultaneously, he founded his own art gallery with his partner, Thomas Madigan, in 1979.  Following a short stint as Assistant Director of the Jacob Weintraub Gallery, he was named curator of the Evelyn Sharp Collection in 1983.  He held that position until her death in 1997.  On behalf of Mrs. Sharp and her son, Peter Jay Sharp, both noted philanthropists, he negotiated a gift of a million dollars to the Metropolitan Museum to create the Sharp Gallery, dedicated to School of Paris art.  He also helped Mrs. Sharp’s daughter, Mary Sharp Cronson, in producing Works and Process at the Guggenheim, that signature museum’s performing arts program.

 

Other positions held in the art world include Registrar of the Mary Boone Gallery and Special Projects Director for Jean Pigozzi, the owner of the world’s largest collection of contemporary African art and Weegee photographs.  He currently sits on the Advisory Board of The Gallery at Worcester College.

 

Don Harley’s commitment and passion for the arts extends beyond his professional career.  It is probably best exemplified by his owning and operating 676 Union Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn, in the early 1980’s.  He and his partner, Thomas Madigan, created low-cost artist housing which also provided studio space free of charge for the artists.  Many of the works created there are now for sale at Don Stone Jr Contemporary Art.

 

In addition, Don Harley pursued post-graduate studies in Special Education at Hunter College while employed as an Institutional Facilities teacher for the City of New York.  He is a staunch supporter of and volunteer for the Stonewall Community Foundation and Heritage of Pride Inc., (HOP), serving for a short period of time on both their boards.  In 2007, he was recognized for his work with Heritage of Pride by the City of New York, receiving a City Council Citation for exemplary service to his community.

 

Throughout his career, he has had the great privilege of meeting and in some cases, working with many luminaries of the art world such as Andy Warhol, Fritz Scholder, Francois Gilot, Gerard Stora, Langlands & Bell, Gilbert Baker, Angela Westwater, and Klaus Perls.