Well now, we’ve never been that concerned with the (often sordid soulsucking) business of art, we’ve always been more concerned with the actual art, although it is rather sad to see today the not unexpected reports of the Canadian-born, London-based art dealer Stephen Friedman closing his London gallery and his operation entering into administration. The gallery has been part of the London scene since 1995. Last November, he closed his New York outpost, citing a plan to “consolidate operations in London”, rumours had been circulating though…
In a statement, the gallery said: “Stephen Friedman Gallery commenced the administration process on 2 February 2026 to allow for an orderly review of its financial position. FRP Advisory have been appointed as the administrator. All matters are now subject to the administrator’s consideration. The gallery is now closed to the public and will not be presenting at Art Basel Qatar this week.”
It is sad news, and we do hope none of the artists have been burnt financially in all this, it is so often the artists who lose out at all levels when this happens (said he while worrying about non-payment from a couple of galleries in recent months), the rumour is that artists were advised to go grab their work before that administration process kicked in and of course there is gallery staff – ArtNews reported that “about forty people are employed by the gallery in London and New York, and all are due to be laid off on Friday”. It has to be said that for over 30 years, Stephen Friedman Gallery has been a leading voice in contemporary art and that the gallery championed a number of exceptional artists from around the world, sharing their work through exhibitions, projects, and international collaborations, Deborah Roberts immediately springs to mind.
There’s been some excellent shows in recent years and particularly since the still new gallery opened in Cork Street. Since the 1990s, the gallery has been based in Mayfair. In October 2023, the gallery expanded and relocated from its two Old Burlington Street sites to the expansive and rather brilliant space at 5-6 Cork Street. From November 2023 to February 2026, the gallery also programmed a second space at 54 Franklin Street in Tribeca, New York; “Stephen Friedman Gallery championed artists whose work expanded the language of art today. Representing nearly forty artists from around the world, the gallery brought together work across painting, sculpture, video and installation, embracing innovation and fresh approaches to abstraction and minimalism. The gallery nurtured the careers of emerging and high-profile artists and has preserved the legacies of numerous estates”.
A number of the Gallery’s shows recently figured in our end of the year best of thing including that excellent Jaune Quick-to-See Smith exhibition, that Autumn Alexandre Diop show, that wonderfully challenging risk that was the Jim Hodges exhibition and of course that Exhibition Of Old Rope from David Shrigley that in the end couldn’t save things – ORGAN: Our best art shows of 2025, who excited? Ron Athey and Hermes Pittakos, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, David Hepher, Hetty Douglas, Geneva Jacuzzi, Lauren Halsey, A Gesture, An Action, Alexandre Diop, Brandon Ndife, Jennifer Binnie and…
A #43secondfilm of the Jim Hodges exhibition at Stephen Friedman Gallery, London, Jan 2025…
The Gallery’s recent artist roster included Ana Cláudia Almeida, Juan Araujo, Tonico Lemos Auad, Leilah Babirye, Jonathan Baldock, Stephan Balkenhol, Sarah Ball, Claire Barclay, Caroline Coon, Alexandre Diop, Melvin Edwards, Andreas Eriksson, Manuel Espinosa, Denzil Forrester, Tom Friedman, Kendell Geers, Sky Glabush, Pam Glick, Wayne Gonzales, Hulda Guzmán, Channing Hansen, Holly Hendry, Thomas Hirschhorn, Jim Hodges, Izumi Kato, Ilona Keserü, Rivane Neuenschwander, Ged Quinn, Deborah Roberts, Anne Rothenstein, Yinka Shonibare, David Shrigley, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Jiro Takamatsu, Caroline Walker, Kehinde Wiley, Clare Woods, Yooyun Yang, Luiz Zerbini…
And yes, you might ask us, with all our championing of the underground, of the DIY and things artist-led, why we should be so bothered, but hey, more than anything we just like going to see art and nearly everything in recent years at Stephen Friedman’s London Galleries have been more than worth our time and effort. We’ve seen some brilliant shows and they’ve all just been there, just waiting, open, free to anyone who wishes to walk in, something that is so so easy to take for granted. If this is the end for Stephen Friedman Gallery then it really is a big big shame. It also leaves a massive hole in Cork Street, it is the biggest space on the street…
Here’s some of our recent highlights…
ORGAN: Frieze Week – Stephen Friedman Gallery present Ugandan artist Leilah Babirye…
and last but not least, and hopefully not the last…
THE ORGAN 