Lauren Halsey, the accomplished Los Angeles artist known for her recent transformation of the Metropolitan Museum’s rooftop into a modern monument and her establishment of a food bank in South Central during the Covid pandemic, is now joining Gagosian, one of the art world’s largest gallery networks with 19 locations worldwide.
Halsey’s debut exhibition with Gagosian is scheduled to open next year at their Paris location, and her inaugural institutional show in England will take place at Serpentine Galleries in London in October 2024. It’s important to note that Halsey will continue to be represented by David Kordansky in Los Angeles.
Reflecting on this new partnership, the 36-year-old artist expressed her excitement about working with another gallery to broaden her reach to diverse audiences, platforms, and voices. She highlighted the potential for Gagosian to showcase her work in regions like Asia, where she has yet to explore.
Larry Gagosian, the gallery’s founder, first encountered Halsey’s work when it was featured in the 2021 exhibition “Social Works,” curated by one of his directors, Antwaun Sargent. Her ambitious interpretation of the annual Met rooftop commission also left a lasting impression, offering a contemporary twist on the Temple of Dendur at the museum.
Gagosian voiced his full support for Halsey’s commitment to ensuring that her artwork reaches collectors of color. He emphasized that inclusiveness goes beyond the artists you represent—it extends to the people who appreciate and collect art.
While Gagosian Gallery is renowned for showcasing iconic artists like Cy Twombly, Anselm Kiefer, and Richard Prince, they also proudly represent Black artists, including Theaster Gates, Titus Kaphar, and Rick Lowe. Halsey expressed her enthusiasm at being part of such a diverse roster of artists.
Antwaun Sargent, who has a longstanding relationship with Halsey, having met her during her time as a graduate student at Yale and seen her through her 2014 residency at the Studio Museum in Harlem, highlighted the artist’s unique approach. He explained that Halsey explores the concept of “funk” as a means to expand the possibilities for Black individuals in space. He emphasized the importance of ensuring Halsey’s vision thrives in the art world because of its significance to her community.
David Kordansky, Halsey’s current dealer, expressed his comfort with the collaborative relationship between galleries. He stressed the importance of maintaining an open and ongoing dialogue between the two galleries, emphasizing the grand aspirations and dreams that Halsey aims to realize within her artistic practice.
