David Norr Takes Sole Ownership Of Norr Cohan Gallery

(MENAFN- USA Art News) Last month, the gallery previously known as James Cohan Gallery announced its rebranding as Norr Cohan. Longtime senior director David Norr has now assumed sole ownership, though James Cohan will continue to collaborate with artists and collectors on a reduced scale.

Founded in 1999, the gallery has undergone significant changes over the years, relocating from 57th Street to Chelsea, and most recently to Walker Street in Tribeca. It currently represents approximately 40 artists, including Fred Tomaselli, Yinka Shonibare, and Tuan Andrew Nguyen. Norr joined the gallery in 2015, coming from the Wexner Center for the Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland. He became a partner in 2018 and a co-owner in 2021, making this transition the final stage of a multi-year handover.

Norr shared his optimistic outlook on the art market, despite current global uncertainties.“My bias is that art brings meaning, it opens minds and hearts, and it enriches lives. I'm a true believer,” he stated. He emphasized that the gallery's focus remains on helping artists build long, productive careers and fostering a community around their work, rather than solely on market cycles.

Reflecting on his background as a former curator, Norr highlighted how it shapes his approach as a dealer.“My background perhaps stubbornly privileges the relevance of an artist over the price point of their work, and I think that differentiates my approach as a dealer,” he explained. He appreciates the opportunity to engage in long-term strategic thinking for an artist's career, a luxury often unavailable to curators.

Norr also spoke about The Campus, a collaborative project with fellow galleries Bortolami, kaufmann repetto, Anton Kern, Andrew Kreps, and kurimanzutto. He noted its value as a communal asset, exemplified by this year's exhibition featuring eight galleries from the U.K., including Thomas Dane, Emalin, Lisson, and Modern Art. Artists like Hurvin Anderson, Sarah Lucas, Tschabalala Self, and Keith Haring presented works across a 78,000-square-foot former public school, with projects responding to the architecture of the found space. This ambitious undertaking, he said,“no single gallery could mount alone.”

The gallery has avoided expanding into other cities, a strategy Norr believes has helped it navigate current market conditions.“We've resisted growth for growth's sake and have tried to remain precise about our scale, focusing on the quality of our program and the service we give to our artists and our clients,” Norr said. Instead, the gallery has invested in its New York presence, working with architectural studio Ideas of Order to renovate and expand its exhibition spaces at 48 and 52 Walker Street in Tribeca. The gallery is slated to reopen in early September under its new name, Norr Cohan.

Norr expressed gratitude for the mentorship of Jim and Jane Cohan, whom he met in 1999.“It's safe to say I would never have entered the commercial world had it not been for Jim and Jane,” he noted, attributing their success to their ability to build a business with both rigor and kindness. The gallery's previous move from Chelsea to Tribeca was due to building development, with Norr finding Tribeca more community-oriented. His favorite local spots include Frenchette, Happier Grocery, and Rigor Hill Market.

Source: Observer Arts

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