Overview
- The gallery announced this week that it will close after 23 years, with its final shows in the main space and project space ending on June 27 and staff reachable for practical matters through the end of August 2026.
- Dépendance was co-founded in 2003 by Michael Callies and Stephan Jaax and built a low-cost, single-location model that prioritized long-term artist relationships over rapid expansion or heavy fair schedules.
- The gallery represented roughly 30 artists and helped place its roster in major international exhibitions and museums, including the Venice Biennale, Documenta, MoMA, and Tate Britain.
- The founders' public statement was deliberately ambiguous about reasons for closing, and peers and artists have posted public condolences and reflections on the gallery’s Instagram page.
- Observers say the closure highlights a shift from the early-2000s boom when small, experimental dealers could sustain long-term projects and may force represented artists to seek new commercial or institutional partners while the gallery’s website and archives remain available.