GaGosian A multibillion-dollar art empire
L
arry Gagosian’s successes in life are due first and foremost to his understanding of people. He has always had a knack for connections and lives for those special bonds he creates between collectors and the pieces of art they covet. However, Gagosian arrived to the art world in a circuitous fashion.
In the 1960s, Gagosian was a student of English literature at the University of California, Los Angeles. Working odd jobs, but always with an eye on the trends of the times, he would print famous works of art and photographs by Diane Arbus and Lee Friedlander, among others. He would then sell these beautiful prints, at a hefty profit, and used his returns to eventually open his first gallery of modern and contemporary art in 1980 in Los Angeles. Eventually drawn to New York, Gagosian stumbled upon an unknown artist by the name of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Mesmerized, Gagosian knew he had discovered someone transcendental and immediately purchased three of his paintings, each for $3,500. By 2017, Basquiat reached a record price of $110.5 million at Sotheby’s, making him the most expensive American artist at auction.
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Photo: THE CIRCLE Team | Portrait: Henry Mcgee/Globe Photos, Inc.
Gagosian has dealt art to an unparalleled following of some of the most powerful men and women in the world. Business magnates such as David Geffen, Steven A. Cohen, Roman Abramovich and Aby Rosen place their trust in Gagosian to deliver unique and personally relevant pieces. At 75, Gagosian has not slowed down in the least and represents some of the greatest contemporary artists of our time including Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Ed Ruscha, and Cy Twombly. Gagosian’s empire boasts an impressive presence with 18 galleries spanning seven countries and the representation of over 120 leading artists.