ABOUT

Founded in 2017 by Mike Ovcharenko and Tanya Stern, Lazy Mike began its program through local and international exhibitions. Over the course of three years, the gallery developed its identity through a series of projects before opening its first space in 2020.

In 2022, the gallery relocated to Riga, Latvia. In 2024, Lazy Mike opened a new space in Seoul, which now serves as the gallery’s main branch.

From this Seoul space, Lazy Mike develops its program through close collaborations with curators, institutions, and cultural partners across Korea, the Baltic region, and the wider international art world. With connections to Zuzeum in Riga and the Latvian Embassy in Seoul, the gallery’s activities extend beyond exhibitions to include talks, artist stays, and cross-cultural projects that broaden the scope of its program.

The gallery has actively participated in international art fairs, including KIAF, Art Busan, ART021, Art Brussels, NADA New York, EXPO CHICAGO, Untitled Art Miami and Houston, Art Los Angeles Contemporary, and others.

International connections have always been important to Lazy Mike, as we believe that no matter what is happening in the world, art has the power to connect people and carry dialogue beyond borders. With this belief, Lazy Mike remains committed to supporting its artists and bringing their practices to audiences around the globe.

FOUNDERS

Founded by Mike Ovcharenko and Tanya Stern, Lazy Mike is shaped by the founders’ experience in gallery leadership, collecting, patronage, and cultural production. Ovcharenko previously served as a director and partner at Regina Gallery and is a member of the acquisitions board of Zuzeum Art Centre in Riga, Latvia, while Stern worked across television production and screenwriting. Their backgrounds continue to inform Lazy Mike’s commitment to long-term artist development, thoughtful collecting, and international cultural exchange.