David Zwirner’s new gallery space joins two Zwirner buildings on the same street in Los Angeles. The low-lying buildings are situated within view of the Hollywood sign and make clear: the art gallery is firmly committed to Los Angeles.
David Zwirner’s new three-story, 15,000-square-foot flagship building on North Western Avenue was designed by Selldorf Architects. The space, located at 606 North Western Avenue, is the third and largest addition to Zwirner’s foothold in the Melrose Hill neighborhood. Two other galleries, 612 and 616 North Western Avenue, opened last year, following a Selldorf-helmed renovation. On May 23, this new flagship building opened with an exhibition that coincides with David Zwirner’s 30th-anniversary. The show presents works by all 80 of the artists the gallery represents.
Selldorf Architects previously designed Zwirner’s new New York City headquarters in Chelsea and is reportedly working on a new two-story building for the illustrious gallery nearby. In many ways, the flagship Los Angeles space is evocative of Zwirner’s 20th street New York venue. Both were designed with white walls, wood paneling, and a notable concrete staircase. At 606 North Western Avenue—characterized by its low-slung silhouette, white facade, and expansive outdoor terrace—Selldorf imbued a distinct L.A. spirit.
Zwirner accompanies a slew of other art galleries debuting in the Melrose Hill neighborhood, which is located within L.A.’s studio district and adjacent to East Hollywood and Silverlake. Like Zwirner, these galleries—including Clearing, Morán Morán, and Southern Guild—capitalized on the neighborhood’s ample supply of empty warehouse buildings. “I’ve been a bit of a holdout with Los Angeles just because there is this traditional thinking that Los Angeles collectors like to buy in New York,” Zwirner said in an interview with the New York Times. “That’s no longer true.”
The new gallery’s flexible exhibition space offers artists the choice to stage small or large shows or even two shows at once. The opening exhibition, David Zwirner: 30 Years, features one piece by each of its 80 artists, including those with a long history at David Zwirner (Jason Rhoades and Stan Douglas) and more recent additions (Elizabeth Peyton, Michael Armitage, and Emma McIntyre).
David Zwirner: 30 Years will run until August 3.