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Cheim & Read Gallery in New York Closes After 26 Years

market-auction · 2026-04-27

Cheim & Read, a renowned gallery located in Chelsea, New York, will shut its doors permanently at the close of December 2023, marking the end of over 26 years in business. The announcement was made through social media, where the gallery expressed gratitude to the artists it has showcased. Since its opening exhibition in 1997, which featured works by Jenny Holzer and Louise Bourgeois, Cheim & Read has highlighted significant modern and contemporary talents such as Diane Arbus, Lynda Benglis, and Robert Mapplethorpe. In 2018, the gallery began transitioning away from its physical location to concentrate on private practices and secondary market sales. After resuming programming in 2019, activities halted four years later. This closure follows co-founder John Cheim's recent auction at Sotheby's in November 2023, which included pieces by Jean-Michel Basquiat and raised nearly $35 million.

Key facts

  • Cheim & Read gallery in Chelsea, New York, closes at the end of December 2023.
  • The gallery operated for over 26 years, opening in 1997.
  • Inaugural exhibition featured Jenny Holzer and Louise Bourgeois.
  • Represented artists include Diane Arbus, Lynda Benglis, William Eggleston, Ron Gorchov, Robert Mapplethorpe, Alice Neel, and Joan Mitchell.
  • In 2018, the gallery announced plans to focus on private practice, secondary market, and sculpture commissions.
  • Programming resumed in 2019 but ended with the closure.
  • Co-founder John Cheim auctioned personal collection at Sotheby's in November 2023.
  • The auction included works by Basquiat, Bourgeois, Katz, and Mapplethorpe, totaling nearly $35 million.

Entities

Artists

  • Jenny Holzer
  • Louise Bourgeois
  • Diane Arbus
  • Lynda Benglis
  • William Eggleston
  • Ron Gorchov
  • Robert Mapplethorpe
  • Alice Neel
  • Joan Mitchell
  • Jean-Michel Basquiat
  • Alex Katz

Institutions

  • Cheim & Read
  • Sotheby's

Locations

  • New York
  • Chelsea
  • West 25th Street

Sources