Sperone Westwater, a prominent New York gallery that has operated for 50 years, will close on December 31. The announcement came three months after co-founder Gian Enzo Sperone filed a lawsuit against his partner Angela Westwater, accusing her of creating a "parasitic deadlock," mishandling funds, withholding records, and mismanaging rent payments. The suit, filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York alongside Sandstown Trade Ltd., which holds a 50 percent stake in the gallery, details disputes over rent, salaries, and control. Westwater allegedly sought to change the rent payment structure due to declining revenues and claimed she could close the gallery at any time. The gallery, founded in 1975 as Sperone Westwater Fischer, has represented major artists including Bruce Nauman, Francesco Clemente, and Richard Long, whose current show will be the final exhibition.
The closure of Sperone Westwater marks the end of a significant 50-year chapter in the New York art scene, reflecting broader challenges facing mid-to-large-scale galleries in a shifting market. The lawsuit exposes deep personal and financial rifts between founding partners, highlighting issues of governance, transparency, and sustainability in gallery operations. The case also underscores the vulnerability of even long-established galleries to internal conflicts and financial pressures, as declining revenues and rising costs force difficult decisions about legacy and viability.