Anne Beresford "All this & More" at Judi Rotenberg Gallery. Image: Judi Rotenberg Gallery

Boston’s Judi Rotenberg Gallery, a Newbury Street fixture since 1971, will close June 19th. The gallery has mounted its final show, pairing works by Anne Beresford with with a survey of gallery artists.

The gallery’s director, Kristen Dodge, and manager, Patton Hindle,  are opening a Dodge Gallery, a new Lower East Side space slated to launch in September. Several Rotenberg artists are expected to join Dodge.

Rotenberg’s owner Abigail Ross Goodman, took over the helm from mother, Judi Rotenberg in 2001.

“There’s no juicy story,” Goodman said about her decision to close. “This wasn’t a dissatisfaction, but an interest in new things. I’m intrigued by non-profit spaces and public art, but I don’t have any clearly defined plans.”

Goodman said the decision was not influenced by the economy. “It was not an economic choice,” she said. “That didn’t impact the decision at all.”

She was upbeat describing recent efforts by area museums who have bolstered their contemporary art programs. “The institutions here are putting a lot of time, effort and money behind contemporary art,” said Goodman. “The artwork I seen being made here is top-notch. The Museum of Fine Arts School and Mass Art are incredible breeding grounds. There’s so much energy and opportunity.”

Installation shot of gallery artists show. Photo: Judi Rotenberg

Anne Beresford "Now Playing, Too" 2010, monoprint. Image: Judi Rotenberg Gallery