Director at New York's Gagosian Gallery is fired after co-workers accuse him of 'repugnant' misconduct toward women
A prominent director at New York's Gagosian Gallery has been fired after former and current co-workers accused him of 'serious misconduct' toward women.
Sam Orlofsky, 44, was sacked Monday over the allegations after being suspended without pay since at least October 24, Bloomberg reported.
A letter from owner Larry Gagosian sent to employees on Monday gave no specifics but said the allegations against an unnamed 'colleague' constituted 'unacceptable and repugnant' behavior, according to ARTNews.
According to the letter, outside counsel is investigating 'claims from current and former employees that a colleague engaged in serious misconduct, primarily targeted against women in the Gallery.'
Sam Orlofsky , 44, a New York-based director for Gagosian, was accused of 'serious misconduct' toward women by current and former employees at the global art juggernaut
Allegations posted by two social media accounts triggered the investigation, according to an internal letter announcing Orlofsky's suspension.
It's not clear whether the alleged misconduct was directed toward current or former co-workers, or others.
Those with information relevant to the investigation, which is ongoing, are encouraged to contact Gagosian's head of human resources, the more recent letter stated.
'Mr. Orlofsky intends to fully cooperate in the company's inquiry into these matters, and, to permit that process to appropriately proceed,' John J. Rosenberg, a lawyer representing Orlofsky, told Bloomberg.
Gagosian owner and founder Larry Gagosian penned a letter to his employees Monday that acknowledged an ongoing investigation into allegations of 'unacceptable and repugnant' behavior by an unnamed 'colleague' who was fired
Gagosian has exhibited a who's-who of contemporary artists, including Jeff Koons, whose works from a 2013 Gagosian show in New York are pictured above
A 2018 opening reception for a show by artist Urs Fischer at Gagosian Gallery in New York
A Gagosian spokesperson declined to comment beyond what was stated in the letter from Monday.
Orlofsky started at Gagosian in 2001, reported Bloomberg. At that point he was a few years out of college and took a 'front-desk junior sales job' at the gallery, he told Artsy.
Orlofsky became one of the top sellers at the gallery, which has 18 exhibition spaces in ten cities worldwide. He has worked with artists such as Jonas Wood, Dan Colen, Roe Ethridge, Mark Grotjahn, Jennifer Guidi, Alex Israel, Titus Kaphar, according to Bloomberg.
In 2018 Orlofsky led Gagosian's effort to create online viewing rooms that serve as virtual gallery spaces for prospective buyers worldwide, reported ARTNews.
A Gagosian exhibition space on West 24th St. in Manhattan, one of 18 around the globe
During his 19 years at Gagosian, Orlofsky worked closely with artists such as Dan Colen, Roe Ethridge, Mark Grotjahn, Jennifer Guidi, and Jonas Wood (Wood is pictured above at right)
Orlofsky did not immediately respond to a message requesting comment.
Since its founding in 1980 in Los Angeles, Gagosian has represented some of the biggest names in contemporary art, including Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, and Richard Serra.