A former artists’ compound in exclusive Snedens Landing asks $3M

A Palisades estate owned by the late artist Grace Knowlton is now on the market for $2.99 million. The property was transformed into a compound for artists by Knowlton, who was known for her spherical sculptures and lived at the site for nearly 50 years. Located in the secluded enclave of Snedens Landing, the four-acre estate includes a restored barn that serves as the main residence, a cottage, an industrial machine shop, and a pottery studio, all across the landscaped gardens.

Knowlton, who passed away last month at the age of 88, had her work exhibited in a number of museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Storm King Art Center, and others.

The New York Times described the artist as “one of the few female modernists to break into the masculine world of outdoor sculpting.” One of her sculptures called “Steel Twist” is located on the property.

As the Times reported, Knowlton settled in Snedens Landing in the 1960s with her husband Winthrop Knowlton, the president and chair of publishing house Harper & Row. The couple restored a 19th-century barn on the site in 1968, with architect Hugh Hardy handling the renovation.

Hardy was able to preserve the charm of the former barn by restoring the wide plank floors and cathedral beamed ceilings. According to the listing, he added large casement windows throughout to bring in natural light to the space. As the listing describes, Knowlton “in true Snedens tradition, created an artistic compound with artists, potters, and sculptors living and working together on this gracious property.”

The main residence contains four bedrooms, four full baths, and one half-bath. In addition to the impressive converted barn, the property features a two-bedroom cottage, a machine shop with living and studio spaces, a potters’ studio with a wood-fired kiln, and a modern studio.

The property was originally part of Seven Oaks, a historic estate with an 1862 Gothic Revival house considered the oldest of its kind in Snedens Landing. Home to fewer than 100 properties, the private hamlet of Palisades is located in Rockland County and is known for attracting celebrities and artists.

[Listing details: 67/79 Ludlow Lane by Amy (Musinger) Samett for Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty]

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Photo credit: Jump Visuals for Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty