• LARRY GAGOSIAN TO STAFF: SELL ART OR GET OUT

    Larry Gagosian, a shadowy, lynx-like lord of the art world, is known for his commercial savvy and aversion to publicity. "He's sort of a combination of a corporate raider, a dark lord, Peggy Guggenheim, and a railroad magnate", observed Jerry Saltz in Sarah Douglas's profile of Gagosian in the spring issue of Intelligent Life.

    In the face of a recession, the man does not mince words (or take prisoners). This is part of a message he sent his staff in November, according to Flash Art online: 

    “If you would like to continue working for Gagosian I suggest you start to sell some art. Everything is going to be evaluated in this new climate based on performances I basically put in eighteen hours a day, which any number of people could verify. If you are not willing to make that kind of commitment please let me know. The general economy and also the art economy is clearly headed for some choppy waters; I want to make sure that we are the best swimmers on the block. The luxury of carrying under-performing employees is now a thing of the past.”

    His small army of intimidating dealers are surely sweating more profusely than usual in the Miami heat.  read more »


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