Interview with Procession Gallery
Philadelphia Artist-Run Spaces series Episode 08
Procession Gallery is an artist-run commercial gallery started by Graham Cuddy. The gallery shows paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photographs with an emphasis on Philadelphia-based artists.
Gallery Hours: Fridays 2:30-7 pm, Saturdays 12-7 pm, and Sundays 11-5 pm
30 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Space On Space: You yourself are an artist. Procession is an artist-run commercial gallery that opened its doors in 2024. Why now? What led you to open the gallery, and why did you decide to open one in addition to making work in your studio?
Procession Gallery: At PAFA, I was exposed to many talented people. I admired a lot of my peers’ work and was surprised by the lack of gallery opportunities to show work in the city. There are definitely some, but it didn’t feel like any were consistently offering Philly-based artists a place to show. The galleries in the city seemed to show more established artists. I thought there might be a space for a gallery that showcased a new group of artists, mostly living in the Philadelphia area.
I had floated the idea of doing something like a gallery in 2022 with the artists Henry Murphy and Tali Burry-Schnepp, who helped plan and execute the shows. The idea kind of petered out until the spring of 2024. I hadn’t shown work in a while and was getting frustrated going to the studio every day. I was still seeing so much good work around me that it seemed like the right time to take the risk.
SOS: The space at 30 S. 2nd Street is a late-19th-century storefront in Old City. What drew you to that building specifically, and how does its history shape how you program it?
PG: Looking for space was an interesting challenge. When I started, I was somewhat broad about the area; I wanted it to be somewhere south of Center City, but had no specific idea where. I initially looked at a place on Head House Square, but that fell through. That area felt right to me, and given Old City’s history of housing many of the city’s galleries, it seemed like a good fit.
A friend of mine worked at a store right next to 30 S. 2nd Street, and one day I visited him for lunch and noticed the space the gallery now occupies was empty. When I went inside for the tour, the first things that attracted me were the floors and how high the ceilings were.
When I first pictured the gallery, I imagined a smaller space with more densely packed shows. The design of the current space lends itself to a more traditional gallery-hanging approach. It feels a bit formal at times, but lends a certain official air to the works that are up. After being a part of the process and being around the work so much, I forget that someone walking in from the street feels like they are walking into a moderately formal space. All of this is good, just interesting how space does play such a big role.
SOS: Where does the name Procession come from?
PG: The name came from my friend and artist Ana Neifeld. We were talking, and she mentioned a painting of hers with the word procession in the title. I had been stressing out for a little while trying to come up with a name for the gallery, and something about the word resonated with me. It came down to Procession and one other name. I think the idea of it being a procession of artists coming in and out, showing their work, is what made me pick it in the end.
SOS: When I visited a few weeks ago, Larry Becker (who owns a gallery down the street) stopped by to talk with you briefly. Have you found camaraderie among the other galleries in Old City?
PG: Larry is great! I have spoken to him a couple of times, and he has been very generous both with his words and lending me his ladder. Other than that, I have not really interacted on a meaningful level with any other gallery in the area.
SOS: Procession Gallery was named as one of the top 10 best art galleries in Philadelphia by Modern Luxury in 2025. Congrats on getting on that list. As a publicist, I’m always curious how press is generated. Did they reach out to you? Did you reach out to them? Did they publish this without you knowing?
PG: Modern Luxury heard about us through word of mouth and reached out. They had written a piece about us when we first opened, and I was thrilled to see we made the list!
SOS: You’re a PAFA alum, and your current show includes two artists who taught there. PAFA announced in January 2024 that it was winding down its BFA and MFA programs, with the final class graduating this past spring. What was it like watching that unfold from your vantage point as both an alum and a gallerist whose program is tied to PAFA’s community?
PG: It was definitely difficult. There had been rumors about trouble for a while, but when it was finally announced, it was hard to hear. I still had friends in the program who were beginning to really hit their stride and make interesting work, so I felt bad that the rug had been pulled out from under them.
Shortly after, they announced the closure of UArts. The two together were very alarming and disheartening. It really did feel like two major sources generating artists in the city were suddenly gone, and I was and still am worried that we’ll see a smaller number of artists here in 10 to 15 years. That said, it has been reassuring to see the community I was a part of continuing to thrive. Some people have left, but it still feels like there’s a solid group. Being in the position of gallerist has made it easier to discover and befriend people outside of the PAFA community, which has been a real gift.
SOS: PAFA recently reopened its building to showcase A Nation of Artists. Have you seen the recent exhibition, and, if so, what’s your take?
PG: I have not made it over yet. I am hoping to make it over sometime next month, though. I am happy to see the historic building is back open again.
SOS: I saw that Procession will participate in Elsewhere Art Fair this June. Can you give us any sneak peeks at what to expect at the fair, or is everything still under wraps?
PG: Yes, I am excited to participate in the fair. I was happy to see several other Philadelphia-based galleries, as well as a lot of out-of-towners, which is exciting. Procession will be showing two works by Emma Goldstein, who makes quilts, and a couple of paintings by Maria Michurina. Both have shown at the gallery, and I think their work pairs together in an interesting way. Though the two mediums and sizes of works are very different, they both carry with them a certain delicacy and softness in touch.
SOS: What’s coming up next at the gallery?
PG: Up now are 17 works by Otoño Andino-Gaskins. They make these stunning monotypes, and I am really happy with how the show turned out. Otoño also handmade the frames for the works, and each is a work of art on its own. After that is a show I am finalizing the details now, but the general theme is what I think could best be called sort of magical realism. It’ll be a group show, and I am excited about all the new people in it.