Top Gallerists As Key Players in the Globalized Visual Art Game

Until fairly recently, art galleries were locally bound to their circles of collectors and artists. Over the past two decades, a few players have managed to expand their deals into a mobile international network, alongside with some globally active art auction houses. They also play central roles in the admission process for the globally recognized art fairs, which are self-organized by associations of gallerists.

The rise and the business strategy of three contemporary gallerists will be reported: Larry Gagosian, David Zwirner and James Chang. From these narratives, conclusions for the social construction of aesthetic value in the global visual art game are drawn.