Sayart.net - UTA Puts Fine Arts Division on Hold from September 2024

  • September 05, 2025 (Fri)
cover image

UTA Puts Fine Arts Division on Hold from September 2024

Published September 18, 2024 08:23 PM

April Bey and Kim Dacres, We Insist Upon Ourselves in Perpetuity Throughout the Universe (installation view at UTA Artist Space, Atlanta, Georgia, June 2024). Courtesy UTA Artist Space

UTA Fine Arts, a division of United Talent Agency known for promoting contemporary artists through the entertainment and social media landscape, has paused its operations. This includes closing the Los Angeles and Atlanta locations of UTA Artist Space, which have hosted exhibitions since 2015 featuring artists like Lonnie Holley, Mandy El-Sayegh, and the Estate of Ernie Barnes.

The pause was first reported by Puck’s art world newsletter, Wall Power. A UTA spokesperson confirmed that the decision was influenced by the upcoming departure of Arthur Lewis, who has been the director since 2019. Lewis will remain as a consultant for the time being.

Artists represented by UTA Fine Arts were informed of the closure in August but will continue to be represented by UTA in other capacities. Lewis expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with innovative artists and curators over the past five years and thanked UTA’s chief executive, Jeremy Zimmer, for his support. Lewis has not yet disclosed his plans following his departure from UTA Fine Arts.

Sayart / Amia Nguyen, amyngwyen13@gmail.com

April Bey and Kim Dacres, We Insist Upon Ourselves in Perpetuity Throughout the Universe (installation view at UTA Artist Space, Atlanta, Georgia, June 2024). Courtesy UTA Artist Space

UTA Fine Arts, a division of United Talent Agency known for promoting contemporary artists through the entertainment and social media landscape, has paused its operations. This includes closing the Los Angeles and Atlanta locations of UTA Artist Space, which have hosted exhibitions since 2015 featuring artists like Lonnie Holley, Mandy El-Sayegh, and the Estate of Ernie Barnes.

The pause was first reported by Puck’s art world newsletter, Wall Power. A UTA spokesperson confirmed that the decision was influenced by the upcoming departure of Arthur Lewis, who has been the director since 2019. Lewis will remain as a consultant for the time being.

Artists represented by UTA Fine Arts were informed of the closure in August but will continue to be represented by UTA in other capacities. Lewis expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with innovative artists and curators over the past five years and thanked UTA’s chief executive, Jeremy Zimmer, for his support. Lewis has not yet disclosed his plans following his departure from UTA Fine Arts.

Sayart / Amia Nguyen, amyngwyen13@gmail.com

WEEKLY HOTISSUE