Larry Gagosian and His Passion for the Arts

Lawrence Gilbert Gagosian has established a reputation for being one of the best organizers of world-class arts exhibitions. As an art dealer, he has worked with the likes of Keith Barish, Eli Broad, and Douglas S. Cramer, among other notable art collectors, for this purpose. He also owns the well-known Gagosian Gallery chain of art galleries.

Gagosian built his career in the art world by selling posters near UCLA’s campus in Los Angeles. When he upgraded his business to selling prints by more renowned artists like Lee Friedlander and Diane Arbus, his business took off especially when his Broxton Gallery began working with emerging artists like Elyn Zimmerman, Alexis Smith, and Vija Celmins.

In 1978, Gagosian opened his first gallery where the works of art of up-and-coming artists like Chris Burden, Eric Fischl, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Cindy Sherman were displayed. In the early 1980s, his business boomed when he resold the works of contemporary blue-chip artists as well as when he established partnerships with super collectors, such as David Geffen and David Ganek.