Inside the Gagosian’s New Upper East Side Shop

By Flavorwire Staff

Sep. 18, 2009

When it comes to the business of selling art, no one rivals Gagosian Gallery. The gallery boasts five beautifully designed New York locations; two well-appointed London spaces; a stylish Beverly Hills gallery, which will soon be expanded; galleries in Athens and Rome; and offices in Hong Kong and La Jolla, California. And, lately, rumors have been flying about possible future spaces in Paris and Geneva. While most museums, and many galleries, are cutting staffs and expenses, Gagosian’s empire is growing.

Now comes Gagosian, the first retail outpost of the Gagosian Gallery, which opens today on the ground floor of 988 Madison Avenue, where the gallery has fifth and sixth floor spaces. The 2,500-square-foot corner space, which Gagosian is renting from mega-art collector Aby Rosen, was designed by Daniel Rowen Architects with MN Design, in collaboration with the gallery. The store features publications, posters, prints, and limited editions by gallery artists including Damien Hirst, Richard Prince, Cecily Brown, Marc Newson, and Jeff Koons; the store also features a video-projection wall, a reading room, and standout pieces of modern furniture design, used to display the goods.

As an added bonus, the British publishing company Other Criteria, which is a joint venture between Damien Hirst, Hugh Allen, and Frank Dunphy, is selling its art products on the lower level. Other Criteria, which started as a website, currently has two London shops, but this is its first foray into America.