Elisabeth Johs, Danish curator and founder of JO-HS, has long been driven by the idea that art should feel deeply personal. Her gallery concept - now spanning Mexico City and New York - has taken root in two of the world’s most culturally dynamic cities. Her ambition? To create spaces that connect people through art, design, and atmosphere.
The first JO-HS gallery opened in Mexico City's vibrant Roma Norte neighborhood, where an intimate setting allowed exhibitions to unfold like conversations. Now, Johs has expanded her vision with a second location: a gallery-apartment in a SoHo loft, designed to be welcoming, minimalist, and immersive.
This New York space, open by appointment, offers more than just white walls - it creates a mood. “I’ve always been passionate about presenting art in spaces that feel deeply personal and thoughtfully curated,” says Johs, reflecting on the guiding principle behind her work. “This project - JO-HS - reflects my love for spaces that tell stories and bring people together through design and creativity.”
The SoHo location is a continuation of that narrative. Furnished with pieces from Scandinavian design brands Gubi and Louis Poulsen, the space blends clean lines and soft lighting to foster moments of quiet engagement. Johs describes the atmosphere as a modern-day salon - an environment where exhibitions unfold organically alongside dinners, performances, and conversation.
“For me, this gallery is the realization of a personal passion: to establish meaningful connections - between cultures, between the artists we represent, and, ultimately, between our visitors and the works on display,” she explains. That emphasis on dialogue is at the heart of the JO-HS ethos, where art is presented as a lived experience rather than a static display.
The loft itself is intentionally spare. Inspired by modernist architecture and the Danish principle of hygge, Johs has allowed space to speak just as loudly as the artwork. “As a Dane living in New York and Mexico City I find peace in minimalist spaces,” she says. “I never fill the space to the brim with work because I like creating gaps. Gaps are like a breath of air. They are the spaces in between - the dots before and after a new sentence.”
That restraint creates room for reflection. For Johs, an empty wall is not a missed opportunity but a conscious gesture - a pause that invites the viewer to engage more deeply with the work. “Although people like to make suggestions to fill the walls with more art, I am not going to,” she adds. “Space is very important to me. An empty wall here and there allows me to breathe.”
Raised in Denmark and now rooted in two hemispheres, Johs draws inspiration from both her upbringing and her surroundings. “Mexico City offers an intimate, immersive setting, while New York keeps me connected to a broader global network,” she says. Her background in art and design continues to influence not only the gallery’s aesthetics but its purpose: to platform emerging Latin American and Mexican artists and connect them with international audiences.
Among the artists she currently represents are Melissa Ríos (Costa Rica), Floria González, Rodrigo Echeverría, Chavis Mármol, and Rodrigo Red Sandoval (all from Mexico), alongside U.S.-based artist Jack Mernin. Their work, paired with carefully selected Scandinavian pieces, creates an atmosphere that is at once curated and comfortable. “This is interesting because Gubi is very contemporary and Louis Poulsen is very modern,” Johs notes. “They complement each other despite their different time spans.”
The idea of bridging cultures isn’t just aesthetic - it's philosophical. JO-HS was conceived as a cultural bridge between Johs’s two adopted homes. “My background in art and design plays a key role in shaping how the gallery feels and functions,” she says. “The artists we work with also contribute to the gallery’s evolving identity, bringing their unique voices to the space.”
Looking ahead, Johs envisions new dimensions for JO-HS. Interdisciplinary projects are on the horizon, and she hopes to stage exhibitions in unconventional venues. “My dream project is to create a site-specific exhibition that merges art, architecture, and design in a historical landmark or a remote natural setting,” she says. “It would be a project that tells a powerful story while connecting people through shared experiences.”
With its second home now established in New York, JO-HS continues to quietly redefine the art gallery model - placing connection above convention, and storytelling above spectacle. In Johs’s world, space matters, and every detail is part of a larger conversation between form, function, and feeling.
Credits
Gallery: JO-HS, Instagram: @_jo_hs
Interiors Images by Garrett Carroll
Portrait of Elisabeth Johs by Jesse Dittmar
Production by Karine Monié, Instagram: @karinemonie
