The Gallerist

October Edition 2024

Your October art market rundown

October is always one of the art world’s busiest months, and this year proved no exception. Here, we pace through some of the month’s key events. Click on the links to read our in-depth reporting.

The month kicked off with the spirited debut of Atlanta Art Fair. As I found when I was there, the city’s first major art fair helped cement Atlanta as a rising powerhouse while also casting a spotlight on its buzzing art community.

It was quickly over to the U.K., where Frieze London and Frieze Masters opened an exciting VIP Day on October 9th. Hauser & Wirth announced the headline sale before the end of day one: Arshile Gorky’s The Opaque (1947) for $8.5 million. Concurrently, the 11th edition of 1-54 London returned to London’s Somerset House, while ambitious alternative art fair Minor Attractions took over the sleek Mandrake Hotel.

The sprint continued into the next week in Europe, where attention was focused on the third edition of Art Basel Paris. Donning a new title and a new venue in the refurbished Grand Palais, the fair’s third iteration welcomed a thrumming crowd on October 16th. Any nerves were quickly abated by a swell of VIP day sales, including White Cube’s sale of Julie Mehretu’s Insile (2013) for $9.5 million. 

The excitement hardly died down on the second day, evident in Hauser & Wirth’s $20 million sale of Louise Bourgeois’s Spider I (1995). Elsewhere in town, several satellite fairs took place, including the first edition of The Salon by NADA and the Community. Born out of member demand, the fair added another event to Paris’s already packed week of art world activities.  

Slightly farther afield, after the Paris fairs closed, Contemporary Istanbul kicked off its 19th edition with an exclusive “At First Sight” preview day, underscoring the energy across the Turkish art scene.

Rounding us out are the following highlights from key auction sales from October

• David Hockney’s L’Arbois, Sainte-Maxime (1968), which sold for £13.15 million ($17.19 million), led Sotheby’s contemporary evening sale in London.
• Lucian Freud’s Ria, Naked Portrait (2006–07), fetching £11.81 million ($15.44 million), was the highest-selling lot at Christie’s 20th- and 21st-century evening sale in London.
• Jean Dubuffet’s Visiteur au chapeau bleu (1955) commanded €6.88 million ($7.47 million), topping Sotheby’s “Modernités” sale in Paris.
• Salvador Dalí’s Rose méditative (1958), which sold for €3.9 million ($4.23 million), headlined Sotheby’s “Surrealism and its Legacy” sale in Paris.

September Edition 2024

How Galleries Use Branding to Tell Their Stories Art Fairs

Here, Artsy speaks with dealers such as Austrian mega-gallerist Thaddaeus Ropac and New York tastemakers P·P·O·W, among others, to better understand how galleries can create spaces that leave a lasting impression.

How Galleries Use Branding to Tell Their Stories

In a cultural landscape where a shade of neon green can define the energy of a summer—and even leak into a presidential election—a nuanced visual identity is essential for any brand. And in an art world that is both flashy and mysterious, striking the right visual chord is a subtle and delicate act.

August Edition 2024

How Galleries Can Prepare for Art Fairs

Here, we speak with four galleries, well-versed in the international market, about how to prepare for the art fair season ahead.

How Galleries Can Prepare for Art Fairs

As summer winds down, the art fair season kicks into high gear, marking a critical time for galleries attending to define their success for the end of the year.

July Edition 2024

Artsy CEO Jeffrey Yin on His Vision and Strategy

We sat down with Yin to discuss his vision and strategy for Artsy, new developments, and his message to gallery partners. An avid art collector himself, Yin also tells us about a meaningful recent acquisition.

Artsy CEO Jeffrey Yin on His Vision and Strategy

Jeffrey Yin, formerly CFO and general counsel of Artsy, became the company’s new CEO on July 1st. Yin takes over the post from Mike Steib, who led the company for five years and will continue to serve on Artsy’s board.

June Edition 2024

How AI tools can help your gallery

We’re spotlighting three ways that AI tools can immediately optimize your gallery’s day-to-day operations, smoothing over some of the time-consuming and admin-heavy tasks that come with running a gallery.

3 Ways AI Tools Can Help Your Gallery

With the emergence of new AI products and tools, companies are quickly identifying use cases for the technology to help cut costs, expedite production, and propel commerce.

May Edition 2024

Your May recap—auction records, data trends, and more

Our market editor, Arun Kakar, compiled the artists who set new benchmarks under the hammer over the week, which includes both emerging and established names.

10 Artist Records at the 2024 Spring New York Auctions

Following a packed schedule of art fairs in New York, the baton of art world activity was handed over last week to the auction houses, which staged their annual series of key May sales. The marquee auction season marks the first public barometer of the art market’s performance in its most prominent jurisdiction and will also be viewed as a gauge of broader secondary-market demand.

April Edition 2024

How Galleries Are Making the Art World Greener

I touched base with gallerists and sustainability experts at Hauser & Wirth, Charles Moffett, Hosfelt Gallery, and more.

5 Ways Galleries Are Making the Art World Greener

This year’s Earth Day comes against a stark backdrop. Last year was the warmest on record, and a recent UN climate report recently warned that it’s “now or never to limit global warming.”

Read the article to learn more about how galleries are urgently addressing the climate crisis.

March Edition 2024

Where is the secondary market headed in 2024?

I checked the pulse of the secondary market with insights from varied gallerists expose a layered market scenario. 

6 Art Dealers on Where the Secondary Market Is Headed in 2024

Read the article to learn more about the secondary market from gallerists at Maddox Gallery, Dumas Limbach, Art Mavens LLC, The BlackWood Gallery, Seefood Room, and Raw Editions.

February Edition 2024

Running a gallery is often a family business, and recent years have seen a wave of succession taking place across the art world. We caught up with gallerists to discuss the nuances—and occasional difficulties—of keeping things in the family.

How Family-Run Galleries Handle Succession

Read how family dynamics influence the professional lineage at OMR, Mollbrinks Gallery, Sean Kelly Gallery, and Flowers Gallery.

January Edition 2024

The growth globalization of the international art world has perhaps been one of the main themes of this century, with new cities and destinations emerging around the world as bonafide destinations for art lovers and professionals alike. In this month’s feature, we identify five dynamic art scenes off the art world’s traditional circuit that are set for success in 2024.

5 Emerging Art Capitals to Watch in 2024

Check out five cities off the art world’s well-beaten track that promise exciting creative encounters.

December Edition 2023

This year, commercial galleries around the world navigated uncharted territory in a shaky year for the art market. In spite of this tricky climate, several galleries have blossomed in 2023, both in their local communities and by making waves internationally at art fairs around the world.

10 Galleries That Had a Breakout Year in 2023

Check out 10 emerging galleries that have made significant breakthroughs this year.

November Edition 2023

A new wave of alternative events that have sprung up over recent years during art fair moments establishing different formats and approaches to exhibiting and experiencing art outside of the conventional art fair blueprint that was established with Art Cologne some 56 years ago.

We spoke with the founders of Basel Social Club, SPRING/BREAK Art Show, and Minor Attractions to get the lowdown.

New Art Fair Models Are Changing the Game, from Basel to Seoul

Hear from Basel Social Club, Minor Attractions and more on alternative art fair events.

January Edition 2023

First, it was Hong Kong. Then Seoul hit the spotlight. Now, the art world is buzzing about Singapore, which has just hosted the first edition of Art SG, a major art fair, and its first major big event since the pandemic to welcome international visitors.

But can the city-state live up to the hype?

Is Singapore the Next Major Global Art Hub?

Hear from Gagosian, Pearl Lam, and more on the city’s growing status.

December Edition 2022

With the pandemic-induced upheaval of the art world in 2020 and 2021, there were big hopes that 2022 would be the art market’s return to form. In some ways, that was what we got.

This month, I’ve rounded up some of the trends that have shaped the art market in 2022.

5 Trends That Defined the Art Market in 2022

From NFTs to Surrealism, read about the trends that shaped the art market in 2022.

November Edition 2022

This year has presented myriad challenges for galleries.

Despite the obstacles, however, there are several galleries that made 2022 a time to stretch to new heights. This month, I’ve rounded up some of the emerging galleries that have been breaking through this year.

10 Galleries That Had a Breakout Year in 2022

Check out the ten emerging galleries that made 2022 a time to stretch to new heights.

October Edition 2022

The internet has changed everything, so why shouldn’t it change the art world?

Indeed, online sales now make up a large chunk of the art market. What we hear less about, though, is how the growth of online art buying is affecting the relationships between collectors and gallerists. I asked how dealers are using digital media to maintain relationships with their clientele, and how art buyers use them to feel closer to the works they love.

How Online Art Buying Has Changed the Gallerist-Collector Relationship

How have online tools like marketplaces, price databases, and social media changed the way that gallerists and collectors build lasting relationships?

5 Questions Every Gallery and Artist Should Ask before Working with an Auction House

Find out what to ask when it comes to primary-market auctions.

September Edition 2022

Art fairs have always been important to galleries, but perhaps it was only during the pandemic that we learned just how important.

It’s not that sales dropped without them (by all accounts, they didn’t), but the conversations between gallerists and collectors that lead to fruitful relationships down the line? They often happen at fairs. That’s why I was intrigued to see what galleries’ fair participation would be like this fall.

How Many Art Fairs Are Galleries Attending This Fall?

This year, there are more fairs than ever for galleries to attend in September and October. With so many options, how have galleries decided where to focus their time and energy?

5 Gallery Shows to Look Forward to This Fall

Check out these must-see gallery shows for fall, from Tina Kim Gallery to Pace Gallery and more.

August Edition 2022

For some gallerists, the scorching temperatures signal that it’s time to follow their clients in taking a well-earned rest and close their gallery’s doors to visitors. For others, the pressure of the always-on art world can’t be ignored so easily. 

I asked galleries about their attitudes towards the summer break as well as spotlighting some destination galleries that meet holidaying collectors where they are.

Did the Pandemic Put an End to Galleries’ Summer Holidays?

In the art world, no one works in August. Right? Well, it depends on who you ask.

5 Far-Flung Destination Galleries

Read about these far-flung destination galleries that meet holidaying collectors where they are.

July Edition 2022

Fraud—no one wants to talk about it, but it happens all the time. This month, I’m talking about the most common ways that galleries fall prey to scams—particularly, the kind that involves email.

It’s also summertime, so as well as digging into this serious topic, I also asked gallerists where they are going on holiday this year?

How and Why Galleries Are Getting Hacked

Read the most common ways that galleries fall prey to scams and why the art world is such a target for hackers.

Where Gallerists Are Going on Holiday

Read where gallerists Kristin Hjellegjerde, Loïc Le Gaillard, and Shulamit Nazarian are going on holiday this year.

June Edition 2022

How can galleries support queer art practices? Much of the art world has become increasingly welcoming of queer artists and communities, and all of the galleries I spoke to expressed their desire to show their artists’ work authentically and sensitively.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of buyers who are specifically interested in this kind of work. How do galleries cater to these collectors, while keeping their artists’ needs in mind?

What Does It Mean for Galleries to Support Queer Artists Today?

Read how dealers are working to represent the varied practices of LGBTQ artists today. 

What’s Live On Artsy

Check out some of the current gallery exhibitions on Artsy that focus on queer themes.

May Edition 2022

For art lovers, there’s nowhere like New York City. As gallerist Sean Kelly said last week, speaking about the city’s capacity for art events: “I don’t think there’s a limit on New York.”

It certainly seems like it this month. With this in mind, I looked at the unique challenges and opportunities for gallerists and art fairs in the city. Will collectors grow fatigued with New York fairs?

Can New York Have Too Many Art Fairs?

As the calendar creates more moments for New York in the spotlight, we might wonder: Is there a limit to how many art fairs can find success in the city?

Notable Sales at New York Art Week

Discover some of the notable sales that took place during the inaugural edition of New York Art Week.

April Edition 2022

It’s been a long, hard wait, but the Venice Biennale is finally back. It’s the first time in the Biennale’s history that the exhibition will include a majority of women and gender nonconforming artists. Amid all this change, I wanted to find out how are galleries supporting their artists who will be showing in the Biennale.

What the Venice Biennale Means for Galleries

How do galleries manage their own, and artists’, interests while also adhering to the Biennale’s spirit of a market-neutral gathering?

Art-World Insiders’ Venice Tips

Find out where a variety of Venice regulars where they’ll be sneaking off to take a break from the contemporary art overload next week.

March Edition 2022

On February 24th, everything changed. The past few weeks, I’ve been watching what’s unfolding in Ukraine in horror, and wishing I could do more.

While artists and institutions in Europe in particular have been contributing to fundraising efforts for Ukrainian aid, one notable source of help has been cryptocurrency and NFTs. The Ukrainian government called for donations in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether—and over $60 million has been raised at the time of writing.

NFTs Promised to Revolutionize the Art World. Are Galleries on Board?

With a year of NFTs behind us, how have galleries responded to this surge in interest for blockchain-certified work?

Mieke Marple and Sinziana Velicescu on Curating a Sale of Generative Art NFTs

Sinziana Velicescu of Vellum LA and artist/writer Mieke Marple discuss how generative art works with NFTs and what should collectors know about buying NFTs.

February Edition 2022

Welcome to the first edition of The Gallerist, a newsletter from Artsy highlighting the latest topics affecting the art industry. From market analysis to art fair updates to million-dollar sales, I’ll be bringing you the long view on what lies ahead in the art world and spotlighting some fantastic art and artists in the process.

For this edition, I’ve homed in on the return of Frieze Los Angeles. As the 2022 fair kicks off, I asked gallerists how things have changed for them in the past two years, and consider what this moment of in-person meeting means to the L.A. art scene. I also chat with Knowledge Bennett, the artist and founder of L.A. gallery The KNOW Contemporary.

Will Frieze Los Angeles Represent the “New Normal” for Art Fairs?

In a new location, a larger roster of galleries, and new director Christine Messineo at the helm, will the fair offer galleries and collectors a glimpse of a more “normal” art market in 2022?

Knowledge Bennett on His Latest Show and Must-Sees in L.A.

Knowledge Bennett discusses his latest show of work by emerging Black artists, “BLACK,” co-curated by Bennett and author and art historian Charles Moore.