Tim Blum, co-founder of the influential Los Angeles gallery Blum & Poe, announced the closure of the gallery last week. Blum, who took over after Jeff Poe left the business in 2023, cited personal burnout and a system-wide problem of over-expansion as reasons for the decision. In an interview with CULTURED editor-in-chief Sarah Harrelson, Blum reflected on his 35-year career, his role in building LA into an art-market capital, and his plans to stay involved in the art world in a new, alternative form.
The closure of Blum & Poe signals a significant shift in the art market, which has been contracting for the past two years. The gallery was instrumental in launching the careers of artists like Mark Grotjahn, Henry Taylor, and Yoshitomo Nara, and its trajectory mirrored the art world's internationalization and capital-intensive growth. Blum's decision raises questions about the future of Los Angeles as an art hub and whether his move away from the traditional gallery model will prefigure a broader industry transformation.