Michael Maloney (art dealer) explained

Michael Maloney
Birth Date:1950
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, United States
Nationality:American
Known For:Gallerist, art dealer, art appraisal
Education:New York University, ArtCenter College of Design
Website:Maloney Art Appraisals

Michael Maloney (born 1950) is a Los Angeles-based art appraiser and art dealer.[1] [2] [3] [4] He owned and operated the Michael Maloney Gallery in Santa Monica, California (1985–90)[5] [6] and Maloney Fine Art in Culver City, California (2006–16),[7] [8] and since 1998 has pursued a career as an art appraiser and private dealer in Los Angeles and New York.[9] Maloney represented and exhibited a wide range of internationally established and then-emerging artists, including John Baldessari,[10] Jean Michel Basquiat,[11] Travis Collinson,[12] Jeff Colson,[13] Donald Judd,[14] Roy Lichtenstein,[15] Robert Mapplethorpe,[16] Kim McCarty,[17] Robert Motherwell, Joel Otterson,[18] Ed Ruscha,[19] Malick Sidibé[20] and Andy Warhol.[21] The two galleries and their exhibitions were written about in many publications, including the Los Angeles Times,[22] [23] Art in America, Artillery,[24] LA Weekly,[25] and Huffington Post,[26] among others.

Life and career

Maloney was born in 1950 in Los Angeles. After studying graphic design and illustration at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, he moved to Boston and opened his first galleries, East End Gallery and West End Gallery (1980–5) in the seaside resort of Provincetown;[27] the galleries' summer-only programs focused on work by young Boston, New York and Los Angeles artists such as Jean Michel Basquiat, Francesco Clemente and Keith Haring, as well as established ones such as David Hockney, Jasper Johns, Robert Motherwell and Andy Warhol.[28] [29] [30] [31] During the winter months, Maloney worked for the Hokin Gallery in Palm Beach, Florida and Jan Turner Gallery in Los Angeles. In 1985, he returned to California and opened the Michael Maloney Gallery in Santa Monica, which remained open until early 1991.[32] During the 1990s, Maloney pursued work in New York (including with Gagosian Gallery) and Los Angeles as a private art dealer and curator, before establishing himself as an art appraiser and Director of 20th Century Art for Butterfield & Butterfield Auctioneers (now Bonhams) in California in 1998. Since that time, he has worked as an independent appraiser, and in 2006, opened Maloney Fine Art in Culver City, California, which operated through 2016.[33] [34] Since 2007, Maloney has contributed to "Angel Art," an annual art auction that has raised over $10 million for the nonprofit, Project Angel Food, which provides meals for men, women and children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.[35] [36]

Michael Maloney Gallery

Maloney opened the Michael Maloney Gallery in 1985, operating as owner and director in the burgeoning gallery districts that developed in the city at the time.[37] He offered a mixed program of established and emerging artists, with work ranging from collage-like lithographs by Robert Motherwell and postmodern, multi-image triptychs by John Baldessari, to the quirky, quasi-naive paintings and diminutive, minimal wall sculptures of younger New Yorkers Joe Andoe and Catherine Lee, respectively, to small surveys of Andy Warhol's work. Other artists that the gallery exhibited include Sam Francis, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Rauschenberg, and then-emerging figures such as Jean Michel Basquiat, Ross Bleckner, Sandro Chia, Francesco Clemente, Robert Mapplethorpe and Joel Peter Witkin, among others.[38] In early 1991, like many others in Santa Monica, Maloney closed his gallery in the face of a prolonged economic downturn and art market slump in order to pursue private dealing.

Maloney Fine Art

Maloney opened Maloney Fine Art in 2006, operating again as owner and director in an intimate space in Culver City, California.[39] He adopted a similar program mixing established and emerging artists, which often played out in eclectic group exhibitions, such as a 2009's "Blue Blue," which featured works in blue by artists as diverse as Yves Klein, Catherine Opie and Kim Dingle, or a 2014 show of Mike Kelley, Raymond Pettibon and Ed Ruscha, which LA Weeklys Catherine Wagley compared to "a psychedelia-meets-grunge mixtape [that] might remind you of times when your mind was blown."[40] The 2013 exhibition, "Fire in Her Belly," featured sociopolitical work centered on dissent and censorship by artists including ACT UP, Andres Serrano, Annie Sprinkle, Ai Weiwei, and David Wojnarowicz.[41] [42] Other well-covered exhibitions included: Joel Otterson's thrift-shop object assemblages ("Chandelier Queer," 2013) and decorative glass and sewn works ("Needleworks," 2015);[43] [44] Jeff Colson's trompe l’oeil sculpture of an overflowing garage (Roll Up, 2014) and absurdist ode to paper (Stacks, 2015); the spare, oblique portraits of Travis Collinson and wet-into-wet watercolors of Kim McCarty;[45] Millie Wilson's interrogation of gender stereotypes through vernacular, found photographs, presented in small light boxes;[46] and a 40-year survey of Malick Sidibé's matter-of-fact, black-and-white portraits in the wake of Mali's independence in 1960.[47]

Maloney carried over many artists from his previous gallery; some of the additional artists that he exhibited include established names, such as Diane Arbus, George Condo,[48] Donald Judd, and Hiroshi Sugimoto, and emerging or lesser-known artists, such as Ford Beckman,[49] Danny First,[50] [25] Anthony James, Masood Kamandy,[51] Maberry + Walker, Yassi Mazandi,[52] Jorge Pardo,[53] Augusto Sandroni,[54] George Stoll,[55] and John Tottenham, among others.[56] [57] [16]

In the beginning of 2017, Maloney decided to shutter the gallery in order to fully focus on his appraisal business; art writers cited the move (and other closings in the area) as symptomatic of a declining art market for galleries caused by a lack of new, younger collectors and auctions cutting into sales.

Art appraisal

Maloney has worked as an art appraiser for more than twenty years, specializing in 20th and 21st century modern and contemporary paintings, prints, photographs and art installations; he is certified by the Appraisers Association of America and earned a USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) certificate in 2008 from New York University. He began in 1997 with Butterfield & Butterfield Auctioneers (Bonhams) in California, and since 2000, has worked independently in Los Angeles for many of the region's prominent private collectors, museums and other arts institutions.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Cathy Curtis, "Santa Monica", Los Angeles Times, July 1, 1988. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  2. Christopher Knight, "Review: Joel Otterson at Maloney Fine Art", Los Angeles Times, November 8, 2013. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  3. Art in America, "Maloney Fine Art". Accessed April 28, 2020.
  4. Molly Hennessy-Fiske, "Selling what the dead leave behind", Los Angeles Times, " December 28, 2009. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  5. Zan Dubin, "A New Art Spot—Santa Monica", Los Angeles Times, " August 11, 1987. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  6. Suzanne Muchnic, "Ominous News for Art Scene: Galleries: James Corcoran, who started Santa Monica’s gallery boom in the mid-'80s, will end his exhibition program in February. Other dealers are regrouping", Los Angeles Times, " December 12, 1992. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  7. Leah Ollman, "Review: Jeff Colson, wizard of illusion, at Maloney Fine Art", Los Angeles Times, November 21, 2015. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  8. Scarlet Cheng, "Shoptalk: Revolution; MOLAA; Gallery Moves; LA Fair Report", Artillery, March 7, 2002. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  9. Brent Hopkins, "The price is right", The Daily Bruin, November 18, 1998. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  10. Kristine McKenna, "Art Reviews: Baldessari Redux", Los Angeles Times, September 22, 1990. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  11. Artist-Info, "Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960 - 1988)", Artist-Info. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  12. Eve Wood, "Travis Collinson: Paintings and Drawings @ Maloney Fine Art, Culver City", Whitehot Magazine, February 2013. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  13. Catherine Wagley, "5 Artsy Things to Do in L.A. This Week, Including a Dog With a Pink Leg", LA Weekly, November 25, 2014. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  14. Donald Judd & Maloney Fine Art, "Donald Judd: Drawings 1963-1977", Los Angeles: Maloney Fine Art, 2010. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  15. Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, "Exhibition History". Accessed April 28, 2020.
  16. Artland, Maloney Fine Art, Artland. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  17. Hunter Drohojowska-Philp, "Sadie Benning and Kim McCarty", KCRW Art Talk, January 15, 2015. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  18. Leah Ollman, "Joel Otterson", Art in America, October 30, 2015. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  19. Catherine Wagley, "Five Artsy Things to Do This Week", LA Weekly, June 6, 2014. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  20. Carolina A. Miranda, "Datebook: J.M.W. Turner’s late work, African portraiture, lowbrow pin-ups," Los Angeles Times, " February 26, 2015. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  21. Suzanne Muchnic, "Santa Monica", Los Angeles Times, " May 27, 1988. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  22. William Wilson, "Santa Monica", Los Angeles Times, February 12, 1988. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  23. Suzanne Muchnic, "Santa Monica in Avant-Garde of New Art Season", Los Angeles Times, " September 12, 1989. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  24. Eve Wood, "John Tottenham at Maloney Fine Art", Artillery, June 26, 2014. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  25. Catherine Wagley, "God Willing", LA Weekly, August 8, 2013. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  26. Steven Zevitas, "Must See Painting Shows: February 2013", HuffPost, February 11, 2013. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  27. Christopher Busa, "Conversations with Art Dealers," Provincetown Arts, Summer 1987, p. 93–7.
  28. Zan Dubin, "Eyeing the Gallery Scene: The Looking Is Free-- and Often Wall-to-Wall Stimulating", Los Angeles Times, April 4, 1987. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  29. Lisa Dennison, New Horizons In American Art, New York: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, 1985, p. 98.
  30. MoMA, "The Dedalus Foundation's Robert Motherwell Scrapbooks", Archives. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  31. Provincetown Arts, "Galleries," Provincetown Arts, August 1985, p. 23.
  32. Suzanne Muchnic, "A New Picture for Art Market: Sales decline spreads concern, but a long view is for a renewal of aesthetic values", Los Angeles Times, " April 7, 1991. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  33. LivWill Art, "Art World Q & A: Edition 6", March 28, 2017. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  34. Scott Eyman, "At home with the art collector", Palm Beach Post, January 11, 2013. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  35. Henry K Long, "Angel Art 2017, Connecting Artists and Collectors for a Great Cause…Project Angel Food!", HuffPost, June 4, 2017. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  36. Beverly Press, "'Angel Art' returns for annual fundraiser," Beverly Press, May 25, 2017, p. 24.
  37. Lisbet Nilson, "Artists Hidden Away in Topanga Canyon Hills Open Their Own Gallery", Los Angeles Times, May 13, 1990. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  38. Kristine McKenna, "Santa Monica", Los Angeles Times, April 14, 1989. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  39. Sasha Bergstrom-Katz, "Blue in the Face". Artslant, June 5, 2009. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  40. LA Canvas, "Resurrected Pictures, Maloney Fine Arts", LA Canvas, The Hidden Issue, May–June 2013, p. 32. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  41. Visual Aids, "Talking to Martabel Wasserman About 'Fire in Her Belly'", Visual Aids, September 16, 2013. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  42. Claire Trevor School of the Arts, "Martabel Wasserman Curates Show at Maloney Fine Art", News, University of California Irvine, 2013. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  43. Eve Wood, "Joel Otterson at Maloney Fine Art," Artillery, December 11, 2013. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  44. Hammer Museum, "Hammer Highlights 2017: Recent Acquisitions", December 20, 2017. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  45. Eve Wood, "Travis Collinson", Artillery, May 26, 2015. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  46. ArtDaily, "Solo exhibition of new work by Millie Wilson on view at Maloney Fine Art", ArtDaily, 2013. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  47. Lara Taubman, "Endless Summer", Artnet, October 15, 2009. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  48. Los Angeles Modern Auctions, "Just In: A Keynote Painting by George Condo", LAMA, November 11, 2014. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  49. ArtDaily, "Exhibition of Ford Beckman's work opens at Maloney Fine Art", ArtDaily, February 2012. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  50. Edward Goldman, "Artistic Execution of 'Dear Leaders'", KCRW Art Talk, February 7, 2012. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  51. Mark Westall, "Massood Kamandy Collapse at Maloney Fine Art Los Angeles on NOW", FAD Magazine, July 15, 2012. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  52. MutualArt, "New ceramic sculpture and works on paper by Los Angeles artist Yassi Mazandi on view at Maloney Fine Arts", MutualArt. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  53. Edward Goldman, "Up Close and Personal: Happiness and Monsters", KCRW Art Talk, June 3, 2008. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  54. Bill Bush, "There Will Be Art: This Artweek.LA", HuffPost, July 31, 2014. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  55. Conte Art News, "Maloney Fine Art Presents Sculpture and Paintings by George Stoll", Conte Art News, January 9, 2011. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  56. Carolina A. Miranda, "Datebook: Hammer Biennial, Santa Ana sound art and lots of color field," Los Angeles Times, June 12, 2014. Accessed April 28, 2020.
  57. MutualArt, Maloney Fine Art Exhibitions, Galleries, MutualArt. Accessed April 28, 2020.