Ron Rivlin

Ron Rivlin
Ron Rivlin in his gallery. Photo by Tanya Barcessat.
Born (1973-12-04) December 4, 1973
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian-American
Alma materUniversity of Western Ontario
Occupation(s)Art dealer, entrepreneur
Known forArt dealer, gallery owner, Warhol market reports

Ron Rivlin (born December 4, 1973) is a Canadian born art dealer and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. He is the founder and director of Revolver Gallery, a gallery exclusively dedicated to the life and work of Andy Warhol. Rivlin is known for his expertise in Warhol screenprints and authentication. He consults for the FBI’s art crime division and is the author of the annual Andy Warhol Print Market Report.

Early career

Rivlin began his career in the 1990s as a concert promoter focused on electronic and hip hop music. In 1995, he launched Daybreaks Productions, organizing large-scale music events across North America. He later founded the talent agency Coast II Coast Entertainment, which represented acts such as Run DMC, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Biz Markie, Junior Vasquez, Louie Vega, and Infected Mushroom.[1][2] The agency operated for over two decades and closed in 2023.

In 2012, Rivlin established Revolver Gallery in Beverly Hills, California. The gallery is focused exclusively on the art and legacy of Andy Warhol. Rivlin has curated multiple Warhol exhibitions, including:

  • Warhol: A Different Idea of Love (Vancouver, 2015)[3][4]
  • Andy Warhol Revisited: A Mirror For Today (Toronto, 2015)[5]
  • Andy Warhol Revisited: Thirty Years Later (Los Angeles, 2017)[6][7]

Art authentication

Rivlin works in authenticating Warhol screenprints. His involvement with the FBI’s art crime division began after he uncovered a forged Warhol consignment, prompting an investigation and further collaboration on cases involving forgery and fraud.[8][9] His work has been discussed in publications including The New York Times, and Newsweek.[10][11]

Loss in Pacific Palisades Fire

On January 7, 2025, Rivlin’s home and a portion of his private art collection were destroyed in the Palisades Fire, a fast-moving wildfire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. The fire destroyed over 200 works from Rivlin’s collection, including more than 30 original pieces by Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.[12][13][14][15]

Personal life

Ron Rivlin was born in Toronto, Ontario. He attended the University of Western Ontario before relocating to Los Angeles, California, where he currently resides. He is married and has two children.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ Ju, Shirley (Mar 18, 2017). "Ron Rivlin Went From Booking Rap Acts To Andy Warhol Collector". HipHopDX. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  2. ^ Rabb, Maxwell (Feb 15, 2024). "Meet the Man Who Helps the FBI Spot Fake Warhols". Artsy. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  3. ^ "Huge Andy Warhol Exhibition Opens in Vancouver". 2 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Rare Andy Warhol originals on display in Vancouver". CBC. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  5. ^ Tucker, Rebecca (July 2, 2015). "Ron Rivlin turns Yorkville frontage into a tribute to Warhol". National Post. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Revolver Gallery Presents "Andy Warhol:Revisited" - Artillery Magazine". artillerymag.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-18.
  7. ^ "Revolver Gallery Presents "Andy Warhol:Revisited" | Revolver Gallery | Art Galleries, Art Museums, Arts & Culture | Los Angeles News and Events | LA Weekly". Archived from the original on 2017-04-24. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  8. ^ Rabb, Maxwell (Feb 15, 2024). "Meet the Man Who Helps the FBI Spot Fake Warhols". Artsy. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  9. ^ McPhee, Michele (February 29, 2024). "Ron Rivlin's Odyssey Into the Art-Crime Underworld Lands Him an FBI Side Hustle". LA Magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  10. ^ Rogers, Katie (April 12, 2016). "Warhol 'Soup Can' Prints Are Stolen From a Missouri Museum". The New York Times. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  11. ^ Dutton, Jack (January 13, 2023). "Brian Walshe Had History of Art Fraud, Meddling With Inheritance". Newsweek. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  12. ^ Stevens, Matt; Jacobs, Julia (January 14, 2025). "Art Collector Says He Lost Warhols and Harings to L.A. Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  13. ^ Moffitt, Evan (January 21, 2025). "Landmarks destroyed, masterpieces incinerated, communities razed: how the LA fires ravaged culture". The Guardian. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  14. ^ Kennicott, Philip (March 22, 2025). "The Palisades Fire Destroyed Millions in Art. But It's Also Sparked a Debate About Class, Collecting, and Climate". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  15. ^ Shea, Courtney (February 27, 2025). "'I lost my home and collection of 30 Warhols in the LA fires'". Toronto Life. As told by Ron Rivlin. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  16. ^ Johnson, Ron (July 8, 2015). "Art collector Ron Rivlin to display largest private Andy Warhol collection at popup shop in Yorkville". Post City. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  17. ^ "Ron Rivlin: Today's Notable Young Entrepreneur". Notable Life. June 22, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
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