The notorious collector and dealer Adam Lindemann will shut the doors of Venus Over Manhattan, the gallery he founded in 2012, to return to building his personal art collection.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen it from both sides, and now it\u2019s time to wave the white flag,\u201d Lindemann wrote in an open letter published on Artnet<\/a>. The gallery’s final show, Brooklyn-based artist Susumu Kamijo\u2019s Fish & Flowers, opened at the 39 Great Jones Street space in June and will close 17 July.<\/p>\n In the letter, Lindemann describes many of his proudest moments at the gallery, notably counting 40 reviews and features in The New York Times. Venus Over Manhattan also gave solo shows to under-recognised artists like Maryan<\/a>, the Polish Holocaust survivor who made his home at the Chelsea Hotel in New York.<\/p>\n But Lindemann describes the suffering of dealers as well: \u201cDo you want to know the truth about fair committees?\u201d he writes. \u201cThey gleefully ask you to get down on your hands and knees, wag your tail and beg for forgiveness. Then, callously, they waitlist you in permanentia.\u201d<\/p>\n Having started as a collector who married his dealer\u2014the L\u00e9vy Gorvy Dayan founder Amalia Dayan\u2014Lindemann also says transitioning from one to the other resulted in \u201calienating both sides\u201d, saying \u201cdealers distrust you, and most collectors don\u2019t get what you\u2019re up to, so they turn up their noses in disapproval\u2014or even worse, they resent you for switching sides\u201d.<\/p>\n Lindemann makes no qualms about waving a white flag when it comes to selling art and returning to life as a collector; he writes that people should not expect him to pivot to art consulting or dealing privately.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going back to air kisses, handshakes, fist bumps, side hugs, head nods, winks, waves, big smiles, thumbs up and good vibes,\u201d Lindemann writes as a kicker. \u201cCan\u2019t wait to see you at the next art fair!\u201d<\/p>\n It has also been a wild ride for Lindemann outside of the white walls of his gallery and fair stands. In 2023, he was arrested for trespassing and harassment over an altercation with fellow dealer Max Levai<\/a>, a former Marlborough Gallery scion. The two reportedly argued over issues related to their neighbouring Hamptons properties<\/a>.<\/p>\n