Much of the art world revolves around questions of value, not just in terms of appraisals and price tags, but also: what is worth your time in These Times, and your energy? , your attention and, yes, your hard-earned money?
What calculations do you make to determine the meaning and value of something? What moves you? What enriches your life? In this new series, we ask individuals from the art world and beyond about the assessments they make on a personal level.
Leo Rogath may be a contemporary dealer, but he has a passion for art history. These dual passions present no contradiction in terms for Rogath; he grew up the child of notable collectors David and Leslee Rogath, surrounded by world-class works of art, and from an early age learned to see artistic and aesthetic conversations unfold across generations and cities.
Rogath, who is 30, is now taking that perspective to Prince and Wooster, a Soho gallery he founded that combines the work of emerging artists with his family’s prestigious permanent collection, built up over 40 years. This is where artists ranging from Henri Matisse, Ed Ruscha and Andy Warhol to contemporary voices such as Rashid Johnson, Amoako Boafo and Ivy Haldeman are featured.
The gallery is the next step in a career Rogath has dedicated to fostering sales, museum loans and client relationships. He cut his teeth professionally at Christie’s, working in post-war and contemporary auctions and private sales.
For Rogath, fostering dialogue between generations of artists has become his life’s vocation. This philosophy manifests in the physicality of the gallery; the 10,000 square foot Soho space is housed in a New York City landmark, the same building that houses the Dia Art Foundation’s Earth Room. The gallery space was designed in the late 1980s by architects Laurie Hawkinson and Henry Smith-Miller. Currently, the gallery hosts “The willows are crying” a solo exhibition of paintings by emerging painter Emma Ferguson (on view until June 25).
When Rogath steps out of the gallery for a fancy coffee or a chat with a friend, it’s often with his beloved dog, Maybe. Recently, we spoke with Rogath about what he values in art and life, and why.
What’s the last thing you splurged on?
1. A watch that was sentimental to me. 2. A little Elad Lassry that was in the first sale I cataloged at Christie’s from Melva Bucksbaum’s collection (it was about $1,600). 3. Caffeine – I recently tried Magic Mind and it was awesome.
What are you saving for?
Always more art.
Leo Rogath with his dog Maybe.
What would you buy if you found $100?
I’d give it to the Tate acquisition committee.
What makes you feel like a million bucks?
I feel better with my loved ones and the people closest to me. Working through life and ideas with the people you care about surely makes you feel like a million bucks.
What do you think is your greatest asset?
My friends and my family.
What do you appreciate most in a work of art?
The visceral emotion and intellectual insight that can only be evoked by a great painting or sculpture. The historical point of view. How artists engage with those who came before them and laid the groundwork for future generations.
Installation view “Emily Ferguson: Willows Weep” (2023). Courtesy of Prince & Wooster.
Who is an emerging artist worthy of everyone’s attention?
Emily Ferguson and Yuan Fang: The artists behind current and previous shows I’ve hosted at Prince & Wooster. I only host exhibitions with artists I believe in enough to collect and share with my fellow collectors. In “Willows Weep”, I think people will see that Emily’s work is uniquely hers. At 25, you can already identify and feel his style through several series. The work creates a surreal feeling, while being firmly grounded in reality… the characters often feel like they are floating in space but grounded in their own world which Emily expertly conveys. These references are drawn from Emily’s personal visions, her story and the world around us today. She has an instantly recognizable signature feel and style not often seen so early in an artist’s career.
Who is an unknown artist who has not yet received his due?
Nathan Ritterpusch. Nathan’s take on vintage Hollywood imagery is unlike any I’ve seen. His wet-on-wet technique, blending the images, creates a shiny yet textured surface. Nathan first builds and layers images in Photoshop to create a digital study. this practice further brings a contemporary technology and feel to historical imagery. He then coats them entirely by hand with oil. This game is unique to me, constantly mixing mastery of an age-old technique and modern technology.
What do you think is the most overrated thing in the art world?
Buying art that you don’t like or believe in because that’s what other people are doing. You always want to live with what you love. It’s a win/win. There’s no downside to collecting what you love.
What is your most valuable asset?
A watch that I bought myself with the proceeds of my first sale while working at Christie’s.
Leo Rogath in front of a Rashid Johnson from his collection.
What was your best investment?
My time spent with artists, learning what motivates them and inspires them to create what is important to them. Buy several pieces by Rashid Johnson in 2016 and Amoako Boafo in 2019, as well as many other wonderful living artists.
What is something small that means the world to you?
My dog, named Maybe.
What’s not worth the hype?
Collecting with your ears and not with your eyes – something that has been more common in the last 10 years than in previous years.
What do you think is a good cause?
Use art to encourage mental health awareness, as well as awareness of other important causes.
What do you aspire to?
I aspire to create a space where people can appreciate the art that is being made now within the context of historical work. The dialogue is often fascinating and entertaining, and instructive.
Follow Artnet News on Facebook:
Want to stay one step ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive breaking news, revealing interviews and incisive reviews that move the conversation forward.
