Haunch of Venison to Close Zurich Gallery

A short while ago I posted on the closing of a mid level contemporary art gallery in New York City. The closure was based upon a lack of business and an inconsistency in sales over the past year. Here is a report of another closer, but of a top tier gallery and supposedly for very different reasons. The Art Newspaper is reporting that Haunch of Venison Gallery, owned by Christie's, will close its Zurich Location in order to focus on its galleries in London, NY and Berlin. The gallery states it has nothing to do with the economy or the closure represents a statement of the contemporary art market. Haunch recently expanded its London gallery and recently opened a new gallery in New York City. I can understand closing a gallery in order to focus on other locations, especially if those other galleries are growing. It is also possible that with the expanded London location, the Zurich gallery may be attracting the same clientele and collectors as the London gallery.

The Art Newspaper states Contemporary art dealer Haunch of Venison has announced the closure of its 3,500 sq. ft space in Zürich which opened in 2005. Haunch, which is owned by Christie's, denied that the economic slump has prompted the Swiss withdrawal, saying in a statement: "To ensure the continued support of their roster of international artists and an expanding exhibition programme in London, Berlin and New York, contemporary gallery Haunch of Venison announces the closure of their Swiss exhibition space, Haunch of Venison Zürich, at the end of 2009.

"Following Haunch of Venison London's recent relocation to 6 Burlington Gardens earlier this year, the London programme has been extended to include a broad range of multi-faceted exhibitions; the closure of the Zürich space will allow the gallery to further focus on a programme of work by gallery artists and invited participants."

To read the full artilce, click HERE.