Robin Pogrebin reports that Julian Schnabel will now be represented by Pace Gallery instead of Gagosian where he had an “informal” relationship according to a statement released by the gallery. The move comes at a time when Schnabel’s plate paintings continue to gain market traction.

In two successive years of May sales (2013-2014) plate paintings made new records for the artist, according to artnet’s database. In May 2013, one sold for $900k; in 2014, the price point jumped to $1.2m.

This May, Loic Gouzer has a plate painting front and center of his Sunday night sale. With a high estimate touching on the record price, Schnabel has a chance to move up another notch.

Meanwhile, Pace’s Arne Glimcher, who says he collects Schnabel himself, puts the gallery move down to old fashioned artist-dealer chemistry:

“Julian is a person who needs a lot of attention,” Mr. Glimcher said. “And this is a gallery that pays attention to artists.”

Julian Schnabel Moves to Pace Gallery From Gagosian (The New York Times)