Berry Campbell x Sargent’s Daughters : Leitmotif

Berry Campbell and Sargent's Daughters are pleased to announce Leitmotif , a collaborative group exhibition organized in partnership between the two galleries, featuring artists from each gallery's program. The concept of this exhibition resonates both visually and conceptually: works by gallery artists from each program are paired across generations, creating a dialogue between past and present, influence and reinterpretation. Leitmotif will be presented simultaneously in both Chelsea and Tribeca, tracing diverse stylistic approaches as they are revisited, reframed, and carried forward by successive generations.

This collaboration also reflects a more personal continuity, as gallery owners Christine Berry, Martha Campbell, and Allegra LaViola are connected by a shared history. They first worked together over twenty years ago at Spanierman Gallery, a historical American art gallery, and have since forged successful careers as gallery owners in their own right. Leitmotif marks a renewed partnership grounded in shared history, admiration, and mutual respect. Bringing together artists from Berry Campbell and Sargent's Daughters, the exhibition pairs contemporary artists with those who came before them to illuminate lines of shared influence. Leitmotif is a testament to the enduring relationships between artists and gallerists that shape and sustain the art world.

Leitmotif is on view from July 16 through August 14, 2026, at Berry Campbell, 524 W 26 th Street, Chelsea, and at Sargent's Daughters, 370 Broadway, Tribeca. Artists included in the exhibition are Yevgeniya Baras, Bernice Bing, Nanette Carter, Lynne Drexler, Yaron Michael Hakim, Gianni Politi, Carlos Rosales-Silva, and Lucia Wilcox. Opening receptions will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, from 6 to 8 pm at Sargent's Daughters and on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at Berry Campbell. A conversation with artists Yevgeniya Baras and Nanette Carter will be held at Berry Campbell on July 29, 2026 from 6 to 8 pm.

About the artist

Bernice Bing (1936-1998) was a trailblazing Chinese American painter whose work navigated the intricacies of cultural and sexual identity, informed by her personal experience.

Born in San Francisco's Chinatown, Bing faced the dual struggle of assimilating into American life while seeking a connection to her Chinese heritage. Known affectionately as Bingo, her work explores themes of identity and cultural assimilation, reflecting her unique position as an independent-minded queer artist. Her profound impact is increasingly recognized, with significant exhibitions including Bingo: The Life and Art of Bernice Bing (2020) at the Sonoma Valley Museum and Into View: Bernice Bing (2022–23) at the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco.

Bing's artistic journey began with early exposure to drawing, which provided her a connection to her cultural roots amid her experiences in white foster homes and at a predominantly white school. Her formal education included studies at the California College of the Arts and the San Francisco Art Institute, where she was influenced by notable artists such as Richard Diebenkorn, Elmer Bischoff, and Saburō Hasegawa. Hasegawa's integration of Zen principles and Asian techniques profoundly impacted Bing, prompting her exploration of abstract expressionism and Eastern philosophies.

In the 1960s, Bing became a central figure in San Francisco's Beat arts scene, working alongside prominent artists like Joan Brown and Bruce Conner. Her work was recognized early on, leading to a solo exhibition at the Batman Gallery in 1961.