THE STRENGTHS AND BENEFITS OF THE MID-SIZED GALLERY
Adam Sheffer, Partner and Sales Director, Cheim & Read and President of ADAA, New York
Martin Aguilera, Head of Sales, Mendes Wood Gallery, São Paulo/New York
Lisa Schiff, Founder of Schiff Fine Art, New York
Moderator: Melanie Gerlis, Columnist, Financial Times and Editor at large, The Art Newspaper, London
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Tuesday, Jan 17
10:00–11:30h | Panel Discussion
When in August 2016 New York gallerist Lisa Cooley announced the closing of her eponymous space after running for eight years, she argued that “a gallery of her size is not a sustainable business right now.” The fact of the proper closing of the gallery was somewhat anecdotal in the face of the subsequent debate that sparked in the specialised media with such a discouraging statement. In fact, the survival of the model of the mid-sized galleries has been questioned over the past years as these adapt to new streams of money, unfamiliar but powerful players, and a massive market expansion that has both energized and bewildered them.
In such a complex environment, this panel aims to emphasize the virtues of mid-tier galleries rather than complaining about the difficulties and related issues. Speakers in this panel will address topics such as: the benefits of single venue galleries, in terms of their relationship to their artists, estates and foundations; the best use of art fairs to expand the gallery’s programme; the strength of a focused, centralized programme; how to collaborate with other galleries internationally; or how to keep costs under control in a slower economy, among others.
In collaboration with the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA)
