After years of serving Bellevue’s art community, Martin Lawrence Galleries in Bellevue Square is closing shop. The shop’s plans to renew its lease this past January was halted when the gallery was informed by the Kemper Development Company that a new retailer already was slotted for the retail space.
Martin Lawrence Galleries will close as of April 31 when their lease expires.
The gallery was offered other alternative retail spaces in Bellevue Square, but declined due to lack of square footage and low visual impact to shoppers, explained Gallery Director Chadwick Johnson who has been with Martin Lawrence Galleries for 10 years.
“They offered two other locations in the mall, but they weren’t adequate with what a high-end art gallery like Martin Lawrence needs. We need a certain type of layout with large window space to display the many pieces of timeless art we sell,” Johnson explained.
The shop which boasts paintings by well-known artists including Picasso, Warhol and Kaufman, will be replaced by Billabong, a sports wear and casual clothing store for teens.
The abrupt announcement caught many off guard, including Johnson, who transfered from California to the Bellevue gallery just seven months ago.
“I have met hundreds of people here who have become loyal clients in the short months I have been here,” he said. “I just relocated my wife and two girls here from Southern California and they are just settling into school here at Newport. It’s tough. We were just shocked.”
He plans to stay loyal to the company and transfer down to the Dallas store following the closing of the Bellevue location.
“My family and I were really starting to love it here,” he said. “The formula for our success here in Bellevue has been superior location, superior art, and superior customer service. Our goal was to enrich and educate the community with the fine art that we offer. There aren’t many places you can go where you will see Picasso’s hanging on the walls. The closest gallery to this caliber is in San Francisco. It’s just unfortunate to take this away from the area.”
According to Johnson, no one is more disappointed then the art collectors and clients with whom he has built solid working relationships.
“What’s most disappointing is that we are one of few people who are growing our business despite the unsteady economic climate,” he said, adding, “art will always be valuable. This shows how under-served the art community is in this area.”
As a result of the gallery closure, all wall stock art is on sale at 45 percent to 70 percent off. A Pablo Picasso hand-signed original piece from the 1930s sells for $68,850, but now holds a price tag of $33,500.
The gallery has sold more than 170 pieces of art in the past few days.
On March 20, Martin Lawrence Galleries will hold its last large auction including 12,000 pieces of artwork handpicked from around the company. A $35 catalog of the auction items up for bidding is available for free by contacting Chadwick Johnson at seattledirector@martinlawrence.com.
Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425.453.4602.
