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In Full Speed:
Rudolf Budja Opened
a New Space for THEGALLERY
in Sunset Harbour, Miami
By Julia Bikbulatova
BY JULIA BIKBULATOVA
Two years ago, we spoke with Rudolf Budja about how he was shaping his gallery operations in Miami and Salzburg, as well as the fundamental differences between the American and European art landscapes. This time, following the relaunch of Rudolf Budja THEGALLERY, we met again with the art dealer to discuss how his approach to gallery management has evolved. We also spoke with Tripoli Patterson, curator of the inaugural exhibition, about the Big Baby Jesus show at The Gallery.
A year after our first meeting in 2024, Rudolf Budja closed his Miami gallery and shifted his focus toward more intimate, boutique format exhibitions. His attention moved to projects in New York, Saint-Tropez, and Salzburg—spaces where curatorial rigor and direct, personal dialogue with collectors play a central role. In 2025, Budja returned to Miami, opening a new gallery under the same name—Rudolf Budja THEGALLERY—but with a rethought management philosophy. This time, he clearly articulates his priority: art is placed at the center of all processes.
“My new approach is quite simple. For almost forty years, I didn’t really have what I would call a truly serious gallery. Now I’m consciously setting aside the parties, vintage cars, and everything secondary—and putting art at the center, where it belongs,” Rudolf Budja says.
The new space has opened in Sunset Harbour—the same neighborhood where the gallery was previously located, but at a different set of coordinates, both physically and conceptually. The opening coincided with the high-energy week of Art Basel Miami Beach, immediately placing the gallery within the rhythm of the city’s most important art event.
“I signed a 20-year lease—it’s a long commitment, but I genuinely connect with the space, the neighborhood, and the people here. It was important for me to open during Art Basel; in that short time, many collectors have already visited,” he notes.
The new space has opened in Sunset Harbour—the same neighborhood where the gallery was previously located, but at a different set of coordinates, both physically and conceptually. The opening coincided with the high-energy week of Art Basel Miami Beach, immediately placing the gallery within the rhythm of the city’s most important art event.
“I signed a 20-year lease—it’s a long commitment, but I genuinely connect with the space, the neighborhood, and the people here. It was important for me to open during Art Basel; in that short time, many collectors have already visited,” he notes.
Rudolf Budja
Photo: ArtDesSpectator Agency
The core concept of the new gallery is four carefully curated exhibitions per year, with pauses for special projects and thematic presentations. The inaugural exhibition, Big Baby Jesus (December 3, 2025 – February 20, 2026), was curated by Tripoli Gallery (Tripoli Patterson) and Abril Ariztizabal.
Street-facing view of the gallery. Photo: THEGALLERY
From left to right: Keith Sonnier, LEUA and Bodo Junction I–III; Ross Bleckner, Untitled (2017) and Untitled (2021); Keith Sonnier, Flocked Pachyderm Series (2009).Photo: THEGALLERY
From left to right: Charles McGill, Three Wise Men (2011), Moon Triptych (2016), and Earth Triptych (2016); Keith Sonnier, Double Circle, Wood and Encaustic Series (2020);Angelbert Metoyer, Venus and the Squid (2016–2021). Photo: THEGALLERY
Exhibition view with Yet to Be Titled (2012) by Thomas Houseago, at center.Photo: THEGALLERY
“Today, it feels like art has to speak about something beyond pure economic value,” Patterson comments. “For us, it’s about storytelling and building narratives. Take Charles McGill’s work, for example: he uses old golf bags from a time when he wasn’t allowed to play golf, returns to that history, unravels the threads and seams, and reconstructs them so they speak to our present moment.”
According to Patterson, the artists brought together in the project share three key principles: a deep commitment to their practice; a rejection of making purely decorative objects; and the presence of an inner pulse in the work—a tension that invites viewers to stay present, reconsider the past, and imagine the future.
“The title Big Baby Jesus is a perfect fit. Jesus is one of the most frequently depicted symbols in the history of painting, yet he represents something universal for all of us, regardless of age or race,” Patterson says. “It’s an image we can draw inspiration from. Art is the best storyteller—it tells the stories of our time.”
Speaking about the potential of the new gallery, Rudolf Budja emphasizes the importance of a team-driven approach. While he previously curated the exhibition program on his own, he now deliberately creates space for younger voices to realize their creative ambitions: “After forty years in the field, you either start going blind or begin to see yourself as a superstar. I don’t feel like either—and that’s exactly what gives me freedom. I can take a step back, assemble a very young team, tap into their energy, and move forward at full speed. I’ve never worked this way before, and that’s what makes this phase truly exciting!”.
Speaking about the potential of the new gallery, Rudolf Budja emphasizes the importance of a team-driven approach. While he previously curated the exhibition program on his own, he now deliberately creates space for younger voices to realize their creative ambitions: “After forty years in the field, you either start going blind or begin to see yourself as a superstar. I don’t feel like either—and that’s exactly what gives me freedom. I can take a step back, assemble a very young team, tap into their energy, and move forward at full speed. I’ve never worked this way before, and that’s what makes this phase truly exciting!”.
Big Baby Jesus,
the exhibition poster
the exhibition poster
Photo: THEGALLERY
Keith Sonnier DALA and LEUA, (Ebo River Series), 2016. Photo: THE GALLERY
Installation view of the exhibition Big Baby Jesus. Photo: THEGALLERY
Installation view of the exhibition Big Baby Jesus. Photo: THEGALLERY
Selection of works by Charles McGill.Photo: THEGALLERY