After a brief tenure, Paul Schimmel is no longer a director, partner and vice president at Hauser & Wirth gallery in Los Angeles, according to a statement artnet News received from Iwan and Manuela Wirth.

Marc Payot, partner and vice president, who currently oversees all of the galleries’ US-based activities, will take charge of the sprawling outpost in Los Angeles’ fast-growing downtown district. Stacen Berg continues in her role as Hauser & Wirth’s senior director in Los Angeles.

The news comes as a surprise, since Schimmel joined Hauser & Wirth less than four years ago. The high-profile announcement of his appointment to the gallery in May 2013 came after his much-talked about departure from his long-time post as senior curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA) after clashing with then-director Jeffrey Deitch,

Notwithstanding several such moves, it is still relatively rare in the art world to see experts cross from the nonprofit realm to the commercial realm.

The gallery has branches in New York, Switzerland, and the UK, in addition to Los Angeles. Inaugurated in March 2016, the West Coast space currently hosts a comprehensive survey of the work of the late LA-based artist Jason Rhoades. The exhibition will be followed this summer by a building wide show of work by Paul McCarthy.

“Going forward, Hauser & Wirth will continue building upon its longstanding, passionate commitment to Los Angeles with expanded programs,” said Iwan Wirth. This includes “an increasingly robust campaign of public events and community outreach activities, and an ever more dynamic schedule of exhibitions that celebrate our artists, and connections between California and the international scene.”

Asked for further information regarding Schimmel’s departure, a spokesperson responded: “The gallery has no further comment at this time.”

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