COURTESY THE ARTIST AND JOE SHEFTEL GALLERY
After nearly four years in business, dealer Joe Sheftel announced today that he will close his Lower East Side gallery to join the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles with the title Director, Donor Relations.
“It has been exhilarating to run a gallery on the Lower East Side,” Sheftel wrote in a letter sent to his gallery mailing list. “I have so much gratitude for the support we have received from friends, artists, curators, critics, gallerists, collectors, members of the press, art fairs, museums and the art viewing public. The ability to play a role in the careers of artists has been challenging and rewarding, but the time has come to move on to new adventures. A special thank you to my staff and art handlers, who have amazed me with their ingenuity and hard work.”
Sheftel opened on Orchard Street in Manhattan in 2012, and hosted shows by artists like Alex Da Corte, Judith Braun, Lee Maida, and Sam McKinniss. The final exhibition at the gallery, Matthew Watson’s sophomore outing there, will close on Sunday, October 25. The dealer said that he will start at the Hammer in late November.
Hearing of the news, a shocked colleague wrote to me, “What? Man, L.A.”
The dealer’s full letter follows below.
Dear Colleagues & Friends,
I am writing to announce the closing of the Joe Sheftel Gallery concurrent with my appointment to Director, Donor Relations at the Hammer Museum. The gallery’s final day will be October 25, the last day of our current exhibition, and my new position will begin late November.
It has been exhilarating to run a gallery on the Lower East Side. I have so much gratitude for the support we have received from friends, artists, curators, critics, gallerists, collectors, members of the press, art fairs, museums and the art viewing public. The ability to play a role in the careers of artists has been challenging and rewarding, but the time has come to move on to new adventures. A special thank you to my staff and art handlers, who have amazed me with their ingenuity and hard work.
I am very excited and honored to join the incredible team at the Hammer Museum, spearheaded by the visionary Ann Philbin. As Director, Donor Relations, I will be working with the museum’s senior leadership and curators on fundraising efforts with individuals and contributing to a wide variety of special projects. I hope that many of my cherished professional relationships will travel with me to the West Coast.
I remain available through the end of this exhibition to say goodbye and celebrate this transition.
Yours,
Joe Sheftel