Michael Werner and Gordon VeneKlasen, partners at Michael Werner Gallery for 35 years, are dissolving their partnership at the start of next year. Werner will continue operating Galerie Michael Werner in Berlin, while VeneKlasen will launch a new international gallery called VeneKlasen, taking over the current New York, London, and Los Angeles locations. The changes take effect in February, with VeneKlasen announcing his program early next year.
The split marks a significant shift for a gallery long known for representing major German painters like Georg Baselitz and Sigmar Polke, as well as contemporary artists such as Issy Wood and Florian Krewer. The separation reflects broader trends in the art market where long-standing gallery partnerships are restructuring, and it raises questions about which artists will follow each dealer into their new ventures.