Powerful art-world marriage ends

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/7626492.stm

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Jay Jopling and Sam Taylor-Wood, one of the art world's most powerful couples, have said their marriage is over.

The pair have been married for 11 years and have two daughters. They said no-one else was involved in the split and that they were parting amicably.

Mr Jopling's White Cube gallery includes high-profile artists such as Damien Hirst and the Chapman brothers.

Ms Taylor-Wood is a Turner Prize-nominated artist best known for a video of David Beckham sleeping.

'Number one priority'

White Cube gallery spokeswoman Sara Macdonald said the couple were "saddened" to have to announce the end of their marriage.

She added: "For the sake of their two daughters, who are their number one priority, they have asked that their privacy be respected."

The White Cube gallery built its reputation on one-person shows for members of the so-called Young British Artists such as Damien Hirst, the Chapman brothers and Tracey Emin.

Last week Damien Hirst side-stepped the White Cube and Mr Jopling when he sold a record-breaking £111m of his art work directly through Sotheby's auction house.