Christie's department head Brett Gorvy will leave at the end of the year to partner with leading contemporary art dealer Dominique Lévy.

Christie's announcement:

Together with Brett Gorvy, Chairman and International Head of Post-War & Contemporary Art, Christie’s announces Mr. Gorvy is leaving Christie’s at year-end to establish an independent art advisory business.  Brett will continue to work closely with Christie’s on special projects and consignments across the 20th century field, while operating independently as an art advisor and dealer within the global art market.

Mr. Gorvy commented: “To those who know me well, you will be fully aware of my profound love for Christie’s and the deep respect and pride that I have for the international team and the shared passion that we have for the extraordinary art that we are fortunate to work with. You can only therefore imagine how difficult and considered the decision has been to take this next step after 23 years of incredible support and teamwork from every part of Christie’s.

I am confident in the knowledge that Christie’s has an exceptionally talented team that has proven itself each season to be the best in the industry. The recent sales in Europe, America and Asia demonstrated clearly how healthy and dynamic the market continues to be both at auction and for Christie’s private sales. It is the right time in my professional life to take advantage of new opportunities, knowing that I will still have close synergy with Christie’s, most especially in 2017 as I will continue to work with the Post-War and Contemporary team on specific exhibition projects and key consignments.”

“We wish Brett very well in his future plans and we are confident he will continue his decades-old relationship with Christie’s in the 20th century art field,” said Patricia Barbizet, Chief Executive Officer, Christie’s. “We would like to take the opportunity to thank Brett for his enormous contribution to the firm over more than 20 years and to emphasize how much we look forward to many years of continued partnership.”

In recent years, Mr. Gorvy has played an increasingly broad role within the 20th Century art field, having successfully established a deep bench of specialist expertise in the Post War and Contemporary Art category at Christie’s. At the international level, the department will continue to be led globally by Laura Paulson, Francis Outred, Mariolina Bassetti, and Loic Gouzer, along with Barrett White, Sara Friedlander, Andy Massad, and Koji Inoue in New York, Xin Li and Eric Chang in Asia, and Edmond Francey in London, with a deep bench of experienced specialists throughout Christie’s locations worldwide. As previously announced, Alex Rotter will join the department in the Americas in 2017, having left Sotheby’s in early 2016. The global department will continue to be overseen by Jennifer Zatorski, President, Specialist Art Departments.