Hemphill Artworks Has Closed Its DC Gallery - Washingtonian

"Hemphill Artworks, the longtime modern and contemporary art gallery and a stalwart of the DC scene, has closed its location in Mount Vernon Square, a sign of the challenges facing art dealers across the country. In an email to collectors and supporters, founder George Hemphill said the gallery will pivot to a different business model, continuing to represent artists and sell work but no longer hosting regular exhibitions. It's the first time Hemphill will be without a storefront in 33 years."

"In the immediate future, we will emphasize personal rather than public outreach, host artist studio experiences, and share unique acquisition opportunities within the secondary art market, while expanding our art consulting and collection management services," the email reads. Hemphill is moving into interim office space at the former Uline Arena in NoMa, according to the email. George Hemphill said he was closing the gallery at 434 K Street, Northwest, over the Presidents' Day weekend and was not available for an interview."

"The loss for the District is enormous: Hemphill is the sole gallery in the city that shows new work by mid-career and established artists. It's mounted five solo shows by Renée Stout, an artist who's been making work in DC since the 1980s about the Black diaspora, mysticism, and the occult. The gallery has showcased encaustic paintings and sculptural installations of music equipment by Robin Rose, who played in the new-wave band Urban Verbs."

Hemphill Artworks closed its Mount Vernon Square gallery, ending a 33-year storefront presence. The gallery will shift to a private-model approach that continues artist representation and sales without regular public exhibitions. Planned activities include personal outreach, artist studio experiences, secondary-market acquisition offerings, art consulting, and collection management. Interim office space will be at the former Uline Arena in NoMa. The closure removes the sole DC gallery regularly showing new work by mid-career and established artists; the gallery mounted solo shows by Renée Stout, showcased Robin Rose's encaustic and sculptural work, and represented several local estates and emerging Washington-area artists.

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