The art world is abuzz with news of Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn’s departure from the esteemed consortium LDGR (Lévy Gorvy Dayan Rohatyn) after two years. Greenberg Rohatyn, one of the founding members, is set to reestablish her former gallery, Salon 94, marking a significant change in the landscape of the art market.
LDGR, a powerhouse collective formed in 2021 by art dealers Dominique Lévy, Brett Gorvy, Amalia Dayan, and Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, aimed to redefine the traditional gallery model. Besides artist representation, the consortium provided advice to collectors and facilitated sales to auction houses. The founders’ diverse expertise spanned contemporary art, the burgeoning Asian market, European connections, and Middle Eastern networks.
However, it was the divergent visions and preferences of the founders that eventually led to Greenberg Rohatyn’s departure. Speaking to ARTnews, she emphasized the underlying commonalities shared among the founders despite the more prominent differences that had garnered public attention. Greenberg Rohatyn’s passion has always been to work closely with artists, nurture careers, and curate visionary collections.
The dissolution of LDGR comes with mutual respect and understanding among the founding members. Greenberg Rohatyn is reclaiming the space that housed her former gallery, Salon 94, while LGDR will continue its operations as Lévy Gorvy Dayan from its 64th Street headquarters. Salon 94 Design, the design-oriented branch, will continue to operate within the same building.
The art market, which experienced a 20 percent dip in gallery sector sales during the gallery’s formation in 2021, has rebounded strongly, with sales reportedly up 7 percent year-on-year, restoring the market’s pre-pandemic value. Greenberg Rohatyn and Dayan will maintain their secondary market business, following LGDR’s dissolution.
Greenberg Rohatyn expressed her excitement about the reopening of Salon 94 this October, featuring a solo exhibition by sculptor Karon Davis. The gallery’s revival will bring back the agility and spontaneity she craved, enabling her to experiment and respond to artistic inspirations quickly. Additionally, a collaborative exhibition between Salon 94 and LDGR is planned for November, featuring works by the painter Jenna Gribbon at LDGR’s 64th Street location.
The departure of Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn from LDGR and the resurgence of Salon 94 mark a turning point in the art world, where personal vision and the nurturing of artistic talent take center stage. As the art market continues to evolve, the shared ambition to bring relevance and assets to the art community remains unwavering among the founders.
In the words of Dominique Lévy, “We all feel life is about giving the best of yourself, first to the artists but also to each other. We could see Jeanne was torn between her previous life, which was maybe more nimble, more personal, and a life that’s more collective. I think she was somehow missing Salon 94, in a beautiful way.” The departure signifies the strength of individual voices within a collaborative venture and the importance of staying true to one’s artistic values.