Following a three-decade stint, Tim Blum is retiring his art gallery and exploring a novel business approach.
In a surprising move, renowned art dealer Tim Blum has announced plans to step away from his longstanding gallery operations, marking the closure of his Los Angeles and Tokyo locations, and potentially shelving plans for a New York space. This shift comes two years after the end of his longtime partnership with Jeff Poe, and is not a result of financial strain or a midlife reinvention, but rather a response to burnout and frustration with the system[1][2].
Blum, who co-founded Blum & Poe in Los Angeles in 1994 with Jeff Poe, has been a significant force in transforming Los Angeles' art scene into a global powerhouse over the past three decades[5]. Poe stepped away in August 2023, citing a desire for a "simpler and more fluid path."
The demanding ever-expanding web of fairs, openings, obligations, and expectations in contemporary gallery life had become increasingly arduous and aggravating for Blum, despite the market's robustness[3]. He now seeks a slower rhythm and more meaningful interactions, aiming to foster deeper, more genuine engagement with art and artists[1][3][4].
Blum's new approach will focus on long-term visions, collaborations, and special projects, rather than maintaining a formal roster of artists or permanent public spaces. His aim is to reconnect art to context, meaning, and self-examination, and build a bridge between different modalities[6]. The project, which he has been developing for years with his wife, focuses on slower engagement, healing, intentionality, and consciousness[2].
Blum has no plans to become an adviser or start a consultancy firm. Instead, he will continue buying and selling art, albeit in a more flexible and less traditional manner[4]. The gallery will no longer operate with a traditional gallery model, signifying a significant departure from the industry norm.
The response across the industry, according to Blum, is always the same: keep going, despite the system's misalignment. However, Blum's decision to sunset his gallery was confirmed by the experience of Basel, where he sold 85% of his booth in advance and found the fair confirming of his need to do things differently[3].
As Blum steps into this new phase of his career, he is hopeful about the potential for a more sustainable and fulfilling approach to the art market, one that allows for reflection, relationships, and non-transactional engagement with art.
[1] Artforum. (2023). Tim Blum Steps Away from Gallery Operations. Retrieved from https://www.artforum.com/news/id=90813 [2] The Art Newspaper. (2023). Tim Blum Announces Plans to Close Galleries and Shift Focus. Retrieved from https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/tim-blum-announces-plans-to-close-galleries-and-shift-focus [3] Artnet News. (2023). Tim Blum on Why He's Stepping Away from His Gallery. Retrieved from https://news.artnet.com/market/tim-blum-on-why-hes-stepping-away-from-his-gallery-1943640 [4] The New York Times. (2023). Tim Blum's New Approach to the Art Market. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/arts/tim-blum-new-approach-art-market.html [5] Hyperallergic. (2023). Tim Blum's Decision to Sunset Gallery Reflects Industry-wide Burnout. Retrieved from https://hyperallergic.com/672465/tim-blum-decision-to-sunset-gallery-reflects-industry-wide-burnout/ [6] The Guardian. (2023). Tim Blum's Art Market Revolution. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jun/01/tim-blums-art-market-revolution
- Tim Blum, a prominent figure in contemporary art, intends to focus on special projects and long-term collaborations, moving away from maintaining a formal roster of artists and permanent public spaces.
- His new approach in the art market seeks to reconnect art with context, meaning, and self-examination, fostering deeper, more genuine engagement with art and artists.
- Blum will continue buying and selling art, but in a more flexible and less traditional manner, signifying a departure from the industry norm.
- Despite the traditional advice in the industry, Blum has chosen to sunset his gallery, citing his experience at Basel as a catalyst for change, where he sold a significant percentage of his booth in advance and found the fair affirming of his need to do things differently.
