PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOMÁS DE LOS SANTOS If I’ve learned one thing about Danny Báez over the past year or so, it’s that he shows up for his people, and they show up in droves for him. Eighteen years ago, a twenty-year-old Báez emigrated from the Dominican Republic to New York City without a semblance of his next move. As of today, he has apprenticed for the likes of Rirkrit Tiravanija and Gavin Brown, co-founded the nonprofit ARTNOIR, ideated and hosted MECA Art Fair for three years in a row, and, in November of last year, opened his first gallery space at 76 Bowery, REGULARNORMAL. From the start of his accidental art career, he has put humans first—before transactions or renowned reputations—and self-describes as a “regular normal” guy who befriends artists for a living. Not only has his commitment to artists’ security and wellbeing translated to highly trafficked shows (his last with Na’ye Perez completely sold out); but it has earned him the title as a “one of a kind” gallerist, according to his current show partner and artist Bony Ramirez.