Regen Projects

Regen Projects is a contemporary art gallery in Los Angeles, California, recognized as a significant force in shaping the city's art scene since its establishment in 1989. Founded by Stuart Regen and Shaun Caley Regen, the gallery has built a reputation for identifying and promoting emerging talent while maintaining relationships with established artists. Its role in launching early careers, including that of Matthew Barney and photographer Catherine Opie, has positioned it as an influential institution in American contemporary art.

Regen Projects was founded in 1989 by Stuart Regen and Shaun Caley Regen at 619 North Almont Drive in West Hollywood, California. The gallery quickly distinguished itself by giving Matthew Barney his first solo gallery show in 1991 and by becoming the first gallery to represent Catherine Opie. Stuart Regen died in 1998 from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, yet the gallery continued to expand under Shaun Caley Regen's direction. In 2003, it added space at 633 North Almont Drive, followed in 2007 by another 230 square meter (2,500 square foot) location at 9016 Santa Monica Boulevard, designed by architect Michael Maltzan. In 2012, the gallery opened a new Hollywood space at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Highland Avenue, again with Maltzan as architect.

Regen Projects maintains a program focused on contemporary art across media, representing both living artists and select estates. The gallery's roster has historically emphasized artists working at the intersection of conceptual rigor and visual innovation. In addition to its primary representation of living artists, the gallery handles the estates of Dan Graham and Lawrence Weiner, indicating a sustained commitment to preserving and promoting legacies within conceptual and language-based art practices.

The gallery's early exhibitions proved formative for several major contemporary artists. Matthew Barney's first solo gallery show at Regen Projects in 1991 marked a significant moment in his career trajectory. The gallery's role as the first to represent Catherine Opie established a long-term relationship with a photographer who would become one of the most important figures in contemporary American photography. The representation of Dan Graham and Lawrence Weiner's estates further underscores the gallery's engagement with foundational conceptual art practices.

Regen Projects has undergone several physical expansions reflecting its growth. The original 1989 location at 619 North Almont Drive in West Hollywood served as the gallery's base for over a decade. The 2003 expansion to 633 North Almont Drive increased capacity in the same neighborhood. The 2007 addition at 9016 Santa Monica Boulevard introduced architect Michael Maltzan's design to the gallery's identity. The 2012 Hollywood location at Santa Monica Boulevard and Highland Avenue, also designed by Maltzan, represented a significant move into a larger purpose-built space, consolidating the gallery's presence in Los Angeles.

Regen Projects operates as a commercial contemporary art gallery in Los Angeles, California. Its current primary location, opened in 2012, sits at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Hollywood. The gallery maintains an official website and receives coverage in major art publications including Artforum and ARTnews. As a private gallery rather than a public institution, access is typically tied to exhibition schedules and appointment. Its ownership and direction continue under the founding principles established in 1989, now sustained following Stuart Regen's death in 1998.