Karsten Schubert is an Austrian born London based artists representative and former gallerist. Backed by Richard Salmon from 1986 to 1993 he ran a gallery on Dering Street and was the first person to represent the Young British Artists most notably with Gary Hume and Rachel Whiteread. However he is remembered primarily as the man who turned down Damian Hirst a decision that contributed to Schubert being eclipsed by other dealers. Salmon pulled the plug on the gallery when the contemporary art market collapsed in the early 1990s and in an interview estimates his loses in the £100Ks. When the Dering Street gallery closed Michael Landy did a special installation 'Closing Down Sale' that was an appropriate satire of Artworld Economics. Schubert benefited from a number of loyal artists that were making money and who were prepared to stick by him including Whiteread. In 1994 opened a new space with the backing of Leslie Waddington but by 1997 this too had got into problems. By getting Whiteread to sign for another gallery Schubert was able to dissolve the business partnership. Since then Schubert has worked representing a small number of artists including Michael Landy and Alison Wilding and producing publications.