Keeping It In the Family
Marlborough Gallery Scion Max Levai Shakes Things Up in Chelsea
By Yasha Wallin
Photographed by Douglas Adesko
Max Levai, the charismatic 24-year-old heading up the Chelsea outpost of Marlborough Gallery is breathing new life into the family business. Levai grew up on West 28th Street just blocks from where Marlborough Chelsea sits today. As a teenager, he went to openings, first to support father Pierre Levai (the president of the Marlborough empire, who oversees its galleries in Madrid, Barcelona, London and Monaco in addition to the two in New York) then later, because he wanted to, after developing a genuine interest in art. He studied art history at Marymount Manhattan College, and still had painting class homework to complete when he began working at the gallery.
Now at the helm of the West Side location, Levai has ushered in a new era of experimentation by working with a roster of innovative artists. "Chelsea was originally conceived as a space to showcase large-scale projects. We've been able to successfully do that and now feel it's important to focus on the gallery's longevity by introducing a new arm that can exist within the Chelsea community," he explains.
Photographer Ari Marcopoulos took over the gallery's second floor in May; and Jonah Freeman and Justin Lowe, known for their "meth lab" installations, will debut in September. November will see an exhibition of Robert Lazzarini's latest sculptures; and in 2013, ex-pro-skateboarder-turned-collage-maker Tony Cox will premiere output from a year spent holed up in upstate New York. "What we have put in place is a conceptually diverse stable of artists," Levai enthuses. "But they're all able to transcend mediums as well as audiences."
The young curator is unpretentious and casually self-assured, with an expansive knowledge of art history and the industry that defies his baby face. Still, Levai insists he has a lot to learn to catch up with his older peers. Until this happens, he surrounds himself with influential collaborators, including recent hire, director Pascal Spengemann. Together, they will pioneer the next chapter of Marlborough Chelsea, ensuring its relevance -- meth labs and all -- for generations to come.
Now at the helm of the West Side location, Levai has ushered in a new era of experimentation by working with a roster of innovative artists. "Chelsea was originally conceived as a space to showcase large-scale projects. We've been able to successfully do that and now feel it's important to focus on the gallery's longevity by introducing a new arm that can exist within the Chelsea community," he explains.
Photographer Ari Marcopoulos took over the gallery's second floor in May; and Jonah Freeman and Justin Lowe, known for their "meth lab" installations, will debut in September. November will see an exhibition of Robert Lazzarini's latest sculptures; and in 2013, ex-pro-skateboarder-turned-collage-maker Tony Cox will premiere output from a year spent holed up in upstate New York. "What we have put in place is a conceptually diverse stable of artists," Levai enthuses. "But they're all able to transcend mediums as well as audiences."
The young curator is unpretentious and casually self-assured, with an expansive knowledge of art history and the industry that defies his baby face. Still, Levai insists he has a lot to learn to catch up with his older peers. Until this happens, he surrounds himself with influential collaborators, including recent hire, director Pascal Spengemann. Together, they will pioneer the next chapter of Marlborough Chelsea, ensuring its relevance -- meth labs and all -- for generations to come.
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