Since its establishment more than fifteen years ago, Lehmann Maupin has organized and curated hundreds of exhibitions for some of the world’s most celebrated contemporary artists working in painting, sculpture, photography, video and new media. The gallery has garnered a reputation for supporting artists working in new and challenging forms; artists' whose work has had a lasting impact on contemporary art and culture. Working closely with curators and leading intellectuals in the field, Lehmann Maupin is committed to presenting its artists on an international level and to firmly establishing their contributions to art history in the 21st century and beyond.

The gallery has given some of today’s most respected artists their first one-person exhibitions in New York, including Tracey Emin, Anya Gallaccio, Shirazeh Houshiary, Klara Kristolova, Liu Wei, Do Ho Suh, Juergen Teller, and Adriana Varejão. In addition, the gallery has highlighted emerging talents, such as Mickalene Thomas, Hernan Bas, Angel Otero, and the Japanese artist Mr., by organizing important solo exhibitions around the world and presenting their work at prominent international art fairs. Lehmann Maupin's program also includes Stefano Arienti, Ashley Bickerton, Ross Bleckner, Billy Childish, Mary Corse, Teresita Fernández, Gilbert & George, Lee Bul, Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba, Tony Oursler, Robin Rhode, Tim Rollins and K.O.S., Rei Sato, Jennifer Steinkamp, Suling Wang, Nari Ward, Erwin Wurm, and Mario Ybarra, Jr.

Lehmann Maupin's long-standing commitment to presenting the best contemporary artists working today extends to an outstanding group of Asian artists hailing from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Mainland China. In 2000, the gallery organized the first exhibition of Do Ho Suh's work in the United States. Since that time, Lehmann Maupin has presented solo exhibitions of Rei Sato, and Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba, alongside those of Lee Bul, and introduced New York audiences to the work of Mr. and Suling Wang. In June 2012, the gallery announced representation of the Chinese artist Liu Wei, who will have his first solo exhibition in the United States at Lehmann Maupin, New York, opening 28 February 2013.

Founded by partners Rachel Lehmann and David Maupin, Lehmann Maupin first opened in the heart of New York's SoHo neighborhood in October 1996, and in September 2002, the gallery moved to its present location in Chelsea. A second New York gallery space opened in late 2007 in Manhattan's new cultural hub, the Lower East Side.