As the Founder of modern and contemporary art gallery Prince & Wooster, Leo Rogath has over a decade’s worth of experience advising for private collections and managing a premier permanent collection. In collaboration with over twenty global art institutions, Rogath has loaned over two-hundred creative works, and is both a member of the Tate Acquisition Committee for North America and a groundbreaking organizer of pivotal donations to the Whitney Museum of American Art and ICA Miami. As a bevy of world renowned art fairs arrive in the city this month, Rogath shares with Whitewall the upcoming exhibitions he has a keen eye on, as well as the best spot for a drink with a view.
Alexander Calder “Vertical Foliage”, 1941. Sheet metal, wire, and paint, Calder Foundation, New York.
WHITEWALL: Within your role as a collector and dealer, what are you looking forward to in New York in May during the fairs?
LEO ROGATH: I am looking forward to the opportunity to see such a volume of fantastic art from emerging to historical. There are many artworks I have my eyes on at the art fairs, auctions, and simultaneous gallery openings. The energy of the art world palpably shifts when everyone comes into town for the May season. All the galleries put their best foot forward. I am always looking for works to add to my collection, from Picasso and Haring, and then emerging to mid-career artists, as well. During these seasons you also get a sense and feel for the overall market sentiment.
“The energy of the art world palpably shifts when everyone comes into town for the May season,” — Leo Rogath
WW: What do you have your eye on at the fairs?
LR: There is a fantastic work by Yuan Fang at Skarstedt’s booth at TEFAF—Yuan is an artist I’ve collected, shown and still work closely with. I look forward to her first solo with the gallery later in May in London.
WW: What are the exhibitions on your must-see list?
LR: Beaumont Nathan: “Kandinsky: The Bauhaus Years”; Di Donna: “Enchanted Reverie: Klee and Calder”; Lisson: Hugh Hayden; LGD: Yves Klein; Hauser, Soho: Roni Horn; Hauser, Chelsea: Rita Ackerman; Zwirner: Lucas Arruda; Clearing: Sedrick ChisomChristopher Wool.
Favorite Spots to Eat and Drink in New York
WW: Where are you go-to places to grab a bite or drink after the fairs/opening?
LR: My favorite places to eat and drink are wholly dependent on the company—I love great food but am not much of a foodie. We often end up at Raf’s in SoHo or (Cucina) Alba in Chelsea—a fantastic restaurant owned by close friends. For a drink with a view and or an interesting crowd Casa Cipriani or Zero Bond are always fun options.
The New York Top 6, According to Leo Rogath:
1. Discover Yuan Fang within Skarstedt’s booth at TEFAF
Yuan Fang “Waxing Moon,” 2023, Acrylic on canvas 78 × 95 in.; courtesy of Half Gallery, New York, published by Artsy.
Skarstedt was founded in 1994 by Per Skarstedt to present a program of museum-level exhibitions by contemporary European and American artists. Recognized for its critically acclaimed historical exhibitions, Skarstedt works closely with artists and estates to re-unite seminal bodies of work and offer focused surveys of pivotal moments in the history of twentieth-century art. Representing some of the most celebrated artists of their generations, Skarstedt also mounts ground-breaking exhibitions of new work, which continue to challenge the boundaries of contemporary identity. — Source
2. Visit “Kandinsky: The Bauhaus Years” at Beaumont Nathan in New York
Wassily Kandinsky (1866 – 1944), “Launischer Strich (Capricious Line),” 1924, Acquired on behalf of a private collector in 2020; published by Beaumont Nathan.
In celebration of our 10 year anniversary, Beaumont Nathan is delighted to announce a special loan exhibition, Kandinsky: The Bauhaus Years. Curated by Olivier Berggruen and Hugo Nathan, this show celebrates ten paintings and works on paper from the artist’s prime Bauhaus period – all acquired by Beaumont Nathan and generously loaned by our clients. The exhibition will be open in our New York office from 7 – 17 May, and is by appointment only. — Source
3. Explore “Enchanted Reverie: Klee and Calder” at Di Donna
PAUL KLEE, “Sonnenuntergang (Sunset),” 1930, Oil on canvas, 18⅛ by 27¾ in.; On Loan from The Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of Mary and Leigh Block, 1981.13, Photo by The Art Institute of Chicago / Art Resource, NY, © 2024 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, published by Di Donna.
Di Donna Galleries is pleased to announce Enchanted Reverie: Klee and Calder, organized in close collaboration with the Calder Foundation. The first exhibition in eighty years to pair these Modern masters, Enchanted Reverie brings together over forty paintings, sculptures, and works on paper to present Paul Klee (1879–1940) and Alexander Calder (1898–1976) in dialogue, illuminating their shared metaphysical understanding of the universe’s unseen forces. — Source
4. Embark Upon Hugh Hayden’s Explorations at Lisson Gallery
Hugh Hayden, “Pulpit,” 2019, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter and flocking on American black walnut with PA system, 72 x 48 x 15 7/8 in.; published by Lisson Gallery.
Hugh Hayden’s practice considers the anthropomorphization of the natural world as a visceral lens for exploring the human condition. Hayden transforms familiar objects through a process of selection, carving and juxtaposing to challenge our perceptions of ourselves, others and the environment. Raised in Texas and trained as an architect, his work arises from a deep connection to nature and its organic materials. Hayden utilizes wood as his primary medium, frequently loaded with multi-layered histories in their origin, including objects as varied as discarded trunks, rare indigenous timbers, Christmas trees or souvenir African sculptures. From these he saws, sculpts and sands the wood, often combining disparate species, creating new composite forms that also reflect their complex cultural backgrounds. Crafting metaphors for human existence and past experience, Hayden’s work questions the stasis of social dynamics and asks the viewer to examine their place within an ever-shifting ecosystem. — Source
5. Indulge at Raf’s Italian & French Bakery in Soho
Published by Raf’s, New York.
From a decadent bakery selection including candied orange almond croissants and rhubarb limon tarts, to a ravishing dinner menu offering delectable seafood platters, steak tartare, and rigatoni alla trapanese, Raf’s is a heaven sent hideaway in Soho.
6. Revel in an Italian Holiday at Cucina Alba in Chelsea
Published by Cucina Alba, New York.
Alba transports guests to an urbanite’s Italian holiday. A restaurant where the food and ambiance is at once seductive and polished, playful and grown-up. It is the new home for gallery goers and denizens of New York’s newest starchitect high-rises. Head chef Adam Leonti places an imaginative spin on Italian cuisine. Author of Flour Lab, Leonti bakes his signature Focaccia in a Roman oven and serves with whipped ricotta. — Source
