Gene Frankel Theatre

24 Bond has been an artists’ haven since the 1960s when the painter Virginia Admiral (Mother of Robert De Niro) owned the building. She was instrumental in making sure it was devoted to creativity.

The building became the center of the avant-garde jazz scene in 1969 when the musician Sam Rivers made his loft at 24 Bond a meeting place for like-minded players.

In 1972, Robert Maplethorpe moved in. In his 5th floor studio, he photographed Patti Smith and other downtown denizens, inviting his subjects to “do drugs, have sex and then be photographed.”

The Gene Frankel Theater moved onto the ground floor of 24 Bond in 1989 and still offers theater and classes to this day.

24 Bond remains very similar to its original 1893 construction. However, Bruce Williams, an artist living within its confines, began decorating the building with his sculptures in 1998 and added more as recently as 2010. The additions are striking! 24 Bond is the only structure in the city where a series of golden dancing acrobats twirl across the façade. The figures are a beautiful testament to the ongoing artistic identity of the building.