With the Autumn Art Exhibition Kick-off, New York Art Galleries Remain Obstinately Hopeful

In the heart of New York City, changes are afoot in the art world. Jack Shainman, a longtime dealer from Chelsea, is moving away from the traditional art fair model, instead focusing on a new 20,000-square-foot space in Tribeca. On Friday, he will open "I Am Many," an exhibition of works by Hank Willis Thomas.

Meanwhile, the art world has faced challenges this summer. Mathew Borysevicz, founder of Shanghai's Bank gallery, opened a six-month pop-up on the Lower East Side earlier this year. However, he has noted the difficulties faced by the art world, with once-stalwart galleries folding, lawsuits, and fair cancellations.

Graham Wilson, founder of Tribeca's Swivel Gallery, is not deterred. He is doing 10 fairs this year and has no plans to slow down, with plans to be at the Armory Show, Untitled Houston, and Untitled Miami this fall. Swivel Gallery has doubled sales every year since its launch due to a focus on cultivating new collectors, most of whom are under 50.

Michael Werner Gallery is also adapting. Co-owner Gordon VeneKlasen has spent much of his time over the last six months working with young collectors who are discerning and take time to make informed decisions. The gallery is moving towards more cooperative arrangements with other galleries for representing artists.

Harper Levine, who operates galleries in Chelsea, East Hampton, and Bangkok, is focusing on building a hospitality arm for his Bangkok gallery. Instead of lavish dinners and splashy events, he is hosting smaller, more personal gatherings to create a welcoming environment for collectors and artists.

Magenta Plains gallery is focusing on artists who deserve more institutional attention. Their fall programming will open with a posthumous show for Haitian American artist Paul Gardère.

The art scene is also seeing the emergence of new galleries. Fairchild Fries, who opened Abri Mars gallery on the Lower East Side, launched an impromptu "invitational" fair for Upstate Art Weekend in July. James Cohan is also venturing into new territories, participating in the Armory Show this year but opting for a pop-up in the Marais neighborhood of Paris with solo exhibitions for Elias Sime and Kelly Sinnapah Mary.

However, not all galleries are participating in fairs this year. Alexander Gray, a dealer, has pulled Bank out of Art Basel Miami Beach, citing a need to be more selective in participating in fairs.

The art world is indeed experiencing a shift, with dealers and galleries adapting to new challenges and opportunities. As Mary Sabbatino, vice president of Galerie Lelong & Co., stated, "Wow, how does one do business in this climate? We have to change." Moments like these demand reinvention from dealers who want to survive, as James Cohan points out, using Paula Cooper's shift in the 1980s as an example.

With the Autumn Art Exhibition Kick-off, New York Art Galleries Remain Obstinately Hopeful