In a significant development within the art world, the founders of Blum & Poe, a prominent gallery headquartered in Los Angeles, have decided to part ways after an illustrious partnership spanning nearly three decades.
Jeff Poe, who co-founded the gallery with Tim Blum in 1994, is set to step away from the gallery, leaving Tim Blum as the sole leader of the enterprise. Despite Poe’s departure, the gallery will retain its well-established name, symbolizing the continuation of the legacy they built.
Matt Bangser, a partner who previously oversaw the gallery’s New York location, has been elevated to the position of managing partner, underscoring the commitment to maintaining the gallery’s robust presence and legacy.
The specific reasons for Poe’s departure have not been immediately disclosed. In a statement, Poe expressed his future intentions, saying, “I’ll be going down a simpler and more fluid path. I’ll continue to work with artists and art; I have to, it’s given me great joy and nothing is more important to me. I’ve also always been engaged with building quieter aspects of the gallery—developing real estate, working with architecture, design—and I’ll continue with that too. I’m pretty excited about having the freedom to fully embrace a new practice.”
Reflecting on the early days of Blum & Poe, Poe noted, “There was no art world, per se,” describing the smaller Los Angeles art scene at the time of the gallery’s inception.
Over the years, Blum & Poe has evolved into a leading establishment in the art world, representing acclaimed artists like Mark Grotjahn, Yoshitomo Nara, and Henry Taylor. The gallery’s expansion has been remarkable, with locations in New York and Tokyo, alongside its continued growth in Los Angeles.
Tim Blum expressed his sentiments about the transition, stating, “It’s been an extraordinary journey building this gallery with Jeff. Starting out in Los Angeles in 1994 with a paltry sum of money and a 1200-square-foot space and taking the gallery through this explosive global growth within the art world is nothing short of remarkable. I see this moment as yet another inflection point in this history, and I am emboldened by the strength of our team now spanning Taipei, Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York, and Paris.”
As the art world continues to evolve, the separation of the gallery’s founders marks a significant chapter in the gallery’s narrative, emphasizing its adaptability and continued commitment to art and artists.