The great art dealer

The most powerful figure in the world of contemporary art Larry Gagosian experienced a unique entry into this mysterious scene. Willing to earn some money he started to wander from place to place selling reproduction posters for $15.

However this was not to last forever. Soon Gagosian realized that he had to enter to bigger market if he wanted to gain success. Finding some way of cooperation with rich collectors, Gagosian soon opened his gallery in LA.

It was in the late 70s that Gagosian came to New York with Annina Nosei to exhibit works of art from a small gallery in SoHo. Gagosian obtained the place for $10000 and a painting of Brice Marden. Already in the early 80s Gagosian became one of the most powerful dealers in the town. He was making great efforts and was trying his best to promote and rise stars like Jean-Michel Basquiat, whom Gagosian met in 1981 just after his debut show.

In 1985 Larry Gagosian moved his entire operation to New York and here he set up his first art gallery on West 23d Street.

However, things grew to their highest culmination when Gagosian met Leo Castelli who was a famed gallerist working with Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein. With Castelli’s great help and support Gagosina soon became one of the biggest collectors in town getting the nickname “Go –Go”
It was in 1990s that willing to widen his business Gagosian opened galleries in New York, two in London, two in LA and one in Rome.

Gagosian is now considered to be the most influential player on the contemporary art scene and is generally believed to be the richest gallerist.

Now the powerful art dealer lives in a townhouse on the Upper East Side that was designed for Christophe de Menil, the fashion designer and Schlumberger heiress.

Kim Gordon, the guitarist of Sonic Youth who worked for Gagosian overtime the time he was selling posters in LA, commented, “He was such an asshole. He used to yell at us. It was a painful, awful experience working for him. He was very mean.”

Mariam