Ashley Stewart Rödder, a senior director at Gagosian, died earlier this month, the gallery confirmed in an email to ARTnews on Friday. No cause of death was provided.
Stewart Rödder had served as a senior director at Gagosian since 2019. She had previously served as director of sales at Salon 94 for four years, as well as a variety of positions at David Zwirner over the course of seven years.
In an emailed statement, dealer Larry Gagosian described Rödder as a “fierce advocate” for her artists. “Ashley distinguished herself as a fierce advocate for her artists, namely Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Deana Lawson and Stanley Whitney,” he said. “She was also deeply respected by her colleagues at the gallery and always conducted herself with great professionalism. Her passing is a tremendous loss and our thoughts are with her husband, family and friends.”
In a post on Instagram, Salon 94 described Rödder as “a beloved colleague” and a “tireless advocate” for artists.
“We are saddened by the loss of Ashley Stewart Rodder, a beloved colleague who spent four years at Salon 94 as Sales Director and artist liaison,” the post reads. “She was a deeply trusted, tireless advocate for the artists she represented, most notably Nathaniel Mary Quinn, whose career she championed with unwavering commitment and followed to Gagosian. Ashley was not simply a colleague; she was a cherished friend who we remember for her grace, discernment, and dedication— a rare talent gone too soon.”
