Larry Gagosian Owner of Gagosian Gallery Date of Birth: 19.04.1945 Country: USA

Larry Gagosian: Biography of an Art Dealer

Larry Gagosian is one of the world's largest art dealers and the owner of five art galleries. He is ranked second on the '100 Most Influential People in the Art World' list by ArtReview, second only to François Pinault. Gagosian's galleries are known for showcasing some of the most significant and valuable works of art.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Larry Gagosian had no aspirations of entering the art world. After university, he worked various jobs, including being a parking attendant. However, a chance encounter with a seller of vintage film posters sparked his interest in the art business.

Gagosian began trading posters and eventually opened his own shop. Through his hands, valuable and rare posters passed, catching the attention of collectors. He then transitioned into framing and selling the posters with a significant markup. Later, he shifted his focus to paintings and started to build relationships with artists.

Throughout his 30-year career in the art industry, Larry Gagosian has played a pivotal role in promoting and introducing talented artists to the world. He has been instrumental in the success of artists such as Cecily Brown, Jeff Koons, and Damien Hirst, actively supporting their careers and guiding them towards creating new masterpieces.

While Gagosian cannot directly control the creative process, he subtly guides his artists and inspires them to produce groundbreaking works. He has managed to secure exclusive contracts with several artists, although not all of his protégés are worthy of such agreements.

Gagosian acknowledges that discovering new artists is a challenging task, and the profitability of this process is often exaggerated. While he has been involved in lucrative deals, the expenses leading up to those deals are significant. Nonetheless, Larry Gagosian's success as a businessman is undeniable. He started by buying posters for just $2 and reselling them for $15, and now he is renowned for buying items for $1000 and selling them for $1,000,000.

Larry Gagosian's unique combination of business acumen and artistic taste has propelled him to great heights in the art world. His galleries attract collectors from around the globe, showcasing works by renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Joan Miró, Damien Hirst, Pablo Picasso, and Cy Twombly. Gagosian's reputation as a leading art dealer continues to grow, solidifying his position as one of the most influential figures in the art industry.