Larry Gagosian Quotes

Powerful Larry Gagosian for Daily Growth

About Larry Gagosian

Larry Gagosian (born 1945) is an influential art dealer, collector, and philanthropist who has significantly shaped the contemporary art world over the past five decades. Although not to be confused with the renowned art collector and gallery owner, Donald Gagosian, Larry Gagosian's impact on the art scene parallels his brother's success in a slightly different capacity. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Gagosian developed an early appreciation for art through family trips to museums and his close relationship with his grandmother, a painter. He attended Harvard University, where he studied economics but was drawn to the burgeoning New York City art scene after graduation. In 1971, he founded his eponymous gallery on Madison Avenue, later expanding it to locations in London, Paris, Rome, and Athens. Gagosian quickly established himself as a tastemaker, representing influential artists such as Jeff Koons, Richard Serra, and Cy Twombly, among others. His galleries have been instrumental in promoting the careers of emerging and established artists through high-profile exhibitions and art fairs like Art Basel and Frieze. Throughout his career, Gagosian has also been active as a collector, amassing an impressive collection that includes works by Jasper Johns, Franz Kline, and Mark Rothko. In 2016, he donated over 400 artworks to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), one of the largest single gifts in the museum's history. Gagosian remains a central figure in the contemporary art world, continually pushing boundaries and fostering dialogue between artists, collectors, and the public. His gallery network continues to grow, with new locations opening in cities such as Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi. As a key player in the art market, Gagosian's influence on the direction of modern and contemporary art cannot be overstated.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Art is a way to dodge the banality of life."

This quote suggests that art serves as an escape or respite from the mundane aspects of everyday life, offering an opportunity for individuals to explore, create, and engage with something more profound, imaginative, or thought-provoking. Art, in essence, allows people to transcend the ordinary and find a deeper meaning, beauty, or purpose in their existence.


"I think there's more collectors today than there were five years ago, ten years ago."

This quote implies a growing trend in art collecting over the past decade. With more collectors today compared to five or ten years ago, it suggests an increasing interest in acquiring artwork as well as a potential rise in the number of individuals with disposable income available for such purchases. This trend could be attributed to factors like economic growth, cultural shifts towards appreciating art, and increased accessibility to information about the art world through digital platforms.


"There's nothing wrong with money in art as long as it's used wisely."

This quote suggests that monetary resources can be beneficial for the world of art, provided they are utilized prudently and not for corrupt or superficial purposes. It acknowledges the potential positive impact of financial resources in supporting artists, funding projects, and fostering artistic growth, as long as the focus remains on nurturing genuine talent and promoting meaningful artwork.


"The market is not a place where you can go shopping and buy an artist."

This quote suggests that the art market is not a conventional consumer market where one can casually purchase an artist like buying groceries or goods. Instead, it implies that the value of an artist's work goes beyond the transactional; it involves understanding their unique artistic vision, talent, and cultural impact, which cannot be easily quantified or acquired on demand. The art world is more about nurturing relationships with artists and appreciating their creative journey than merely buying and selling their works as commodities.


"Art is something that speaks to you, that excites you, that moves you emotionally."

This quote emphasizes the profound emotional impact art can have on individuals. According to Larry Gagosian, the essence of art lies not only in its visual or aesthetic appeal but also in its ability to stir emotions within people. Art is more than just a decorative element; it serves as a powerful medium for expressing feelings and ideas that transcend ordinary communication. When art "speaks" to us, it connects us on an emotional level, providing unique insights into the artist's thoughts and experiences. Ultimately, great art moves us, leaving an indelible mark on our hearts and minds.


Physically, it's getting impossible for me to travel that much. I want to support my artists by showing up at their openings, but I can't always be in Hong Kong one minute and Geneva the next.

- Larry Gagosian

Impossible, Next, Geneva, Showing Up

San Francisco has always been a great city for art collectors.

- Larry Gagosian

Always, Francisco, San, Great City

I don't think the art market is for everybody. Yeah, of course we have a global gallery. But we're like the one-tenth of the one-tenth of the one-tenth. OK? Not just who's buying but who's really seriously engaged with art.

- Larry Gagosian

Art, Think, Engaged, OK

The art market is global now, and there's becoming more of an international consensus about what constitutes good art.

- Larry Gagosian

Art, More, Becoming, Good Art

Naturally, liquidity is a big factor in any market that seems to be a lot of money in the world, and there's a lot of discretionary money.

- Larry Gagosian

Market, Lot, Naturally, Factor

Nobody really needs a painting. It's something you kind of create value for in a way that you don't with a company. It's an act of collective faith what an object is worth. Maintaining that value system is part of what a dealer does, not just making a transaction but making sure that important art feels important.

- Larry Gagosian

Faith, Part, Feels, Maintaining

Take Damien Hirst out of contemporary art history, and there's an incredible void. Great artists, like great people, have second acts.

- Larry Gagosian

Art, Like, Void, Contemporary Art

You get to a point where you really can't manage more artists, because representing artists takes a lot of time.

- Larry Gagosian

More, Point, Representing, Manage

You have to be a little bit cautious when the market gets quite strong because there's a tendency to anoint a genius artist every other day. That would be a word of advice for the collectors out there.

- Larry Gagosian

Strong, Other, Tendency, Collectors

I've never been what they call a 'pure gallerist.' I find that somewhat pretentious, honestly - I'm an art dealer. I like to show great artists of our time, but I also like dealing. And I think they reinforce each other.

- Larry Gagosian

Other, Been, I Think, Pretentious

Good jazz has been a big part of my life as far as my interest in music, and... It's kind of weird now with music, the way technology is, with downloading and iPods and electronic distribution, and its kind of - you miss something, I think.

- Larry Gagosian

My Life, Big, Big Part, Electronic

I've never been on a board, but I just went on the board for Jazz at Lincoln Center. I'm very happy about that.

- Larry Gagosian

Jazz, Been, Very, Board

I never really took a proper art class in college. I just started reading art magazines and going to galleries. I was really drawn to it.

- Larry Gagosian

Art, College, Took, Started Reading

Some people buy art because they're confident that it'll be a good store value, and this is kind of a recent phenomenon.

- Larry Gagosian

Art, Kind, Some, Recent

I have a good visual memory. I'm good with faces, but names - I get in trouble a lot; I can't seem to remember people. People think I'm rude. As a side comment, you know, I'm not being rude: I just kind of blank out.

- Larry Gagosian

Memory, Blank, Just Kind, Comment

The art world is never going to be popular like the NFL, but more people are buying art and I think that's cushioning, to a great extent, our art-market cycles.

- Larry Gagosian

Art, Think, Extent, Great Extent

I believe in the popularizing of art. But when you get right down to it, it's a bit of an elitist world. Not just economically elitist - how many people read poetry?

- Larry Gagosian

Art, Elitist, Read, I Believe In

I don't wear plaid shirts.

- Larry Gagosian

Wear, Shirts

Honestly, I grew up in pretty modest circumstances. We were a middle-class family.

- Larry Gagosian

Pretty, Middle-Class, Modest

I'm not in the luxury-goods business. I sell unique objects. I wish I was in luxury goods because then I could just call the factory and say, 'I need 10,000 more of whatever.' But I can't - because then it's not art, it's something else.

- Larry Gagosian

Objects, Something Else, Luxury

The sun never sets on my gallery.

- Larry Gagosian

Sun, Never, Sets, Gallery

My gallery represents a lot of figurative artists.

- Larry Gagosian

Artists, Represents, Lot, Gallery

The more people who look at great art, the better for our culture.

- Larry Gagosian

Art, Better, More People, Great Art

I was always very focused on how people dressed.

- Larry Gagosian

How, Always, Very, Dressed

When a great artist gets my attention, I pursue it. If I don't, someone else will, you know what I'm saying?

- Larry Gagosian

Great, Artist, Will, Great Artist

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