Why Co-Habitation May Be Key to Brick-and-Mortar Gallery Survival

Beyond New York, international galleries are likewise experimenting with pooling resources. Pace Gallery and Galerie Judin opened a shared exhibition space in Berlin last April. Mexican gallery OMR and Puerto Rican dealer Agustina Ferreyra launched a collaboration during Art Week in Mexico City. Ferreyra was already sharing space with the Los Angeles-based gallery Common Wealth and Council.

Almost a dozen local dealers in Warsaw recently hosted counterparts from Basel, Berlin, London, Shanghai, and others for a gallery-sharing event called Constellations. Though temporary, it demonstrates how physical areas can help build global relationships and business opportunities. Art fairs have come to a similar conclusion. Some, including Art Basel, now offer shared booths that allow emerging or financially conscious galleries to split expenses.

This shift towards collaborative space is a response to economic, cultural, and logistical pressures. Rent and operating costs have become prohibitively high in urban hubs where galleries have historically maintained a brick-and-mortar presence. Smaller dealers and those working to amplify diverse voices often find themselves leaning on partners to reach audiences they could not alone.

The rise of online marketplaces likewise means that selling art from physical spaces has become less common as access is broadened to non-local collectors. By sharing spaces, galleries can offer the analog experience that traditional buyers are still looking for, while participating in digital experiences that may appeal to younger generations or those living outside major commercial hubs.