Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted Access (SIA Only)

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Art Business

First Advisor

Noah Kupferman

Second Advisor

Brendan Burns

Abstract

For centuries, galleries occupied the central position of the art market, functioning as cultural gatekeepers and primary intermediaries between artists, collectors, and institutions. In the current market, this position is under strain. Rising operational costs, the intensification of the fair economy, accelerating market consolidation and a rapidly expanding digital infrastructure have weakened the conditions that once supported the traditional model. Recent closures of established international galleries illustrate how these pressures are not temporary fluctuations but evidence of a deeper structural reconfiguration. This thesis examines how the traditional gallery system is being reshaped under these conditions and what this transformation implies for the future of the art market. Drawing on a qualitative methodology combining a critical review of cultural sociological literature, sixteen interviews with industry professionals, and field observations at major art fairs, the study traces how authority, visibility and legitimacy are redistributed across a more diffuse and accelerated art ecosystem.  The findings show that the mechanisms through which galleries historically exercised authority are shifting. The model, once grounded in discretion, locality and controlled access, now operates within an environment that moves at greater speed and reach. At the same time, the research identifies forms of adaptation that respond to these pressures, including collaborative structures, experience building and renewed attention to the interpretive and developmental work that supports both artists and collectors. These developments indicate not a disappearance of the gallery but an ongoing redefinition of its role within a reorganized cultural environment.

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