Gagosian Gallery is set to present a comprehensive exhibition featuring the works of renowned American artist Richard Diebenkorn this November, marking three decades since the artist's final major show. The highly anticipated exhibition will showcase pieces spanning the artist's entire six-decade career, offering visitors a complete journey through Diebenkorn's artistic evolution and various creative periods.
Meanwhile, Gagosian has been making headlines at Art Basel Paris by breaking conventional fair protocols, bringing Old Master works to what is traditionally a modern and contemporary art fair. Art Basel Paris has granted special permission for this unconventional approach, recognizing the exceptional quality of the paintings and their meaningful dialogue with other modern and contemporary works featured in Gagosian's booth.
The gallery's recent success extends to other major art fairs as well. At Frieze London, Gagosian became the first gallery to announce a complete sell-out of their booth. Speaking to ARTnews about this achievement, a Gagosian representative stated, "The success we've had at Frieze really reflects the strength of the artist. These are conceptually rigorous, but also beautiful works." This success has prompted dealers at the fair to reconsider their exhibition strategies, with many focusing on what makes their strongest wall presentations.
In addition to the Diebenkorn retrospective, Gagosian has announced Jeff Koons' return to the gallery for his first New York exhibition in seven years. Koons' last New York showing was also held at Gagosian in 2018, making this reunion particularly significant for both the artist and the gallery. The artist appears to have departed from Pace Gallery last year amid concerns over manufacturing costs.
The gallery's recent exhibitions have also resulted in major institutional acquisitions. The Vancouver Art Gallery and Walker Art Center have both acquired significant works by Nan Goldin from Gagosian's latest exhibition. The acquired piece's title references the psychosomatic condition that causes dizziness or euphoria in response to beauty, serving as a fitting metaphor for Goldin's distinctive blend of intimacy and intensity that characterizes her photographic work.
As the art market enters its busy fall season, Frieze London serves as a crucial indicator of market health, with Art Basel Paris following just one week later. Industry observers suggest it may be wise to withhold comprehensive market analysis until the end of October, when both major fairs will have concluded and provided a clearer picture of current market conditions.
