Heads of the universe

In April 1974, ceramic artist Paul Bellardo debuted his Heads of the Universe exhibition at Bellardo Ltd., his gallery at 100 Christopher Street in Greenwich Village. On opening night, a line stretched down the sidewalk, and by the end of the evening, every piece in the gallery had sold. With an empty space and fresh inspiration, Bellardo took the proceeds and began curating works from other artists—marking the beginning of Bellardo Ltd.’s 35-year run as a hub for contemporary arts and crafts.