[3] In his later teens Cohn moved to London, where he met painter Michael Ayrton, from whom he bought his first art work.

He saw New Zealand art as undervalued at a time when Auckland had a mere handful of struggling galleries mainly dealing in established names".

Despite its relatively short period of operation (1978-1986), Cohn and his gallery were known for showing leading artists and supporting the careers of younger and newer artists, including Malcolm Harrison, Christine Hellyar, Tony Fomison, Philip Clairmont and Allen Maddox.

[1][2] He also sought out a younger market of collectors, who had not yet began buying established artists' works.

[2] An archive of the gallery's operations in held by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.