Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Friedman.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Art definitely doesn’t run in my family nor is it major in any place I grew up. being born in Atlantic City and spending the majority of your childhood in Las Vegas doesn’t exactly provide a Petri dish for a profession in art. The art world is just always where I have wanted to be and can’t think of a time when I haven’t been pushing myself in that direction.
A lot of things have changed for me personally throughout my life, but when it comes to my profession, art has always remained a constant. I had my first job in the art world when I was 16 and, since then, have spent the past 14 years working for galleries and auction houses, as well as managing and advising private collections throughout the world.
About 2 years ago I was offered an opportunity to move out to LA and spearhead an emerging art program at an established gallery in Hollywood. It was a chance to integrate a new era of progressive, young artists into a long-standing and well-known commercial institution, which I jumped on. The position allowed me to build a program from the ground up and with the artists, I believed in.
Most importantly, it was an opportunity to create a major platform to highlight influential new artists who are addressing social-cultural issues that, in the past, have not been given proper credit, support, and attention from more prominent collectors and dealers.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Apologies in advance if this sounds like one of those doctors office waiting room posters, but, no road worth traveling is smooth. With that being said, my road has never lacked certainty. I’ve gotten a few flats, but my GPS has been pretty reliable and, luckily, I’ve never lost my way. There are struggles and definitely obstacles. Not everyone sees the same potentials you are able to see, but if you learn to embrace these frustrations, they can push you to think in ways you might not have imagined.
It is always a challenge to figure out how to engage a person unfamiliar with an artist’s work and help bring them into the conversation. But when you do, it broadens horizons and makes the world a bit bigger. There is no greater satisfaction than that.
Kohn Gallery – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I work for an established gallery in Los Angeles called Kohn Gallery that specializes in well-known artists from the past 60 years. The gallery was founded in 1985 and has presented historically significant exhibitions in Los Angeles alongside exciting contemporary shows, creating meaningful contexts to establish links to the greater art historical continuum.
I am the Associate Director for the gallery and head up their emerging artist program in which I’m responsible for identifying, fostering, and supporting new artists who I believe are capable of harnessing their talent into a substantial career in the international art community.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I would say my proudest moment is the current exhibition up at the gallery right now.
The show is for Philadelphia based artist, Jonathan Lyndon Chase. We began representing Jonathan at the end of last year and this current exhibition is his inaugural solo show with the gallery, as well as his first in LA. Jonathan’s work examines the daily lives of black queer men and the difficulties faced by defining one’s identity as such in contemporary society.
I am so proud on so many levels with this. I’m so proud of the platform we have been able to provide to the artist and the incredibly important topics he is addressing. I first saw Jonathan’s work about 3 years ago at his first solo exhibition in Philadelphia. He was probably about 25 years old at the time. I remember walking into the gallery and being so overwhelmed by the beauty.
Each piece continually unfolded itself to me in ways that I never imagined a painting could do. I knew I was witnessing something never done before. Having the honor to now work with Jonathan 3 years later is, simply put, an honor. I am so proud of what has been accomplished with this show, but am just as proud of what will come next for him!
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
