Van Der Plas Gallery

The Van Der Plas gallery has been a conduit for contemporary outsider artists for over 40 years. Whether it be street art or contemporary art, the gallery strives to showcase art rising from the innermost human creative spirit. Founder Adriaan Van Der Plas was once himself an outsider, having left his hometown of Vienna, Austria in 1973 to immigrate to New York City. Around this time, artist Konstantin Bokov was preparing to make the same transition. Inspired by the works of Van Gogh and unable to show his art in the political climate of the USSR, he decided to leave the Ukraine for New York city. The two became acquainted in 1993, when Bokov approached Adriaan at his former art pushcart concept in the South Street Seaport district, “Art a la carte”. Adriaan became an avid collector of his work, recognizing the sincerity by which the work was able to portray New York’s spirit and materiality. With the opening of the Van Der Plas gallery on 156 Orchard Street, Adriaan made it the gallery’s mission to bring contemporary outsiders like Bokov into the public eye. Since the 1970’s, Bokov’s works have been exhibited at galleries around the world, and will continue to be an important part of the Van Der Plas gallery.