Mary Sabbatino, VP/Partner, awarded the Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

Galerie Lelong is proud to announce that Mary Sabbatino, Vice President and Partner, has been awarded the Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) from the government of France. The honor was formally conferred on her by Stéphane Foin, Deputy Cultural Counselor of France in the US and Deputy Director of Villa Albertine, with her receipt of the Order’s insignia at a ceremony on June 8, 2026.

Established in 1957, the Order recognizes eminent artists, writers, and individuals whose contributions have significantly advanced the arts and culture in France and throughout the world. Notable American recipients include Paul Auster, Ornette Colerman, Agnes Gund, Frank Stella, and Meryl Streep. In his remarks to Sabbatino, Foin noted, “your career reminds us that galleries do far more than meet the eye. They champion artists before the world recognizes their work. They have something to say and at their best, they shape culture itself. For more than three decades, you have done exactly that. With rigor. With vision.”

Sabbatino was appointed director of the New York location of Galerie Lelong in 1991 and became a gallery partner in 2007. Under her leadership, the gallery has pioneered the community both in presenting a balanced roster of male and female artists, and artists from the Global South. In her acknowledgments, Sabbatino noted, “since I was hired, it was my objective to include a multitude of voices…to ensure the importance and democracy of art in public space. I have tried to always be their mindful stewards, to accept the privilege and responsibility of their creations. Without artists, no cultural life is possible and civilization has no markers.”

Over the course of her career, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the contemporary art landscape through her advocacy and curatorial vision. She served on the boards of ArtTable and the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA), where she initiated and co-authored the organization’s first Code of Ethics. She served on the Selection Committee for Art Basel Miami Beach (2013–2020) and the Art Basel Joint Selection Committee and is a founding member of the Council for the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum. In 2020, Sabbatino collaborated with leading international galleries to launch Galleries Curate and SOUTH SOUTH, initiatives that expanded access and fostered new forms of cultural exchange. As a curator, her landmark 1995 exhibition Art from Brazil in New York introduced many New Yorkers to artists whose influence has reshaped contemporary art history.