What’s Really Changing in the Art World?

HUR TABLE GUESTS

Jul 12

What’s Really Changing in the Art World?

With Charlie Jarvis, Hannah Traore and Hannah Gottlieb-Graham

By HURS Team

The art world might not be top of mind when you think of an industry of progress and change. But the $65 billion industry is, slowly, transitioning into a more inclusive and diverse space. Covid-19 has been one of the drivers of that change. The pandemic forced galleries, auction houses and art dealers to move online. Resulting in online sales doubling to $12.4 billion, a record high for the industry rooted in the old. The shift to selling online also allowed novice collectors to dip their toes into the art world for the first time. Allowing for some democratization in a world known for its exclusion.

When it comes to women, the numbers are less positive. In 2018, 87 percent of all artists in US museum collections were white men. Women are creating an equal amount of work, but are only getting one-third of the opportunities to display their art. Even though 51 percent of visual artists in 2020 were women, only 27 percent of solo exhibitions went to women between 2014 and 2020. And it doesn’t get better when we look beyond artists. Women might make up the majority of museum staff, but remain underrepresented when looking at the upper echelons of the art world. Luckily some are taking matters into their own hands. A group of change makers – both old and new – are pushing the industry forward. Creating space for new voices to be heard, ensuring representation of all in the world of art.

CHARLIE JARVIS
Charlie Jarvis is the co-founder of Fairchain, a title management, authentication and transaction platform for fine art. It protects collectors from forgeries and disputes while empowering artists to benefit from the secondary markets they create. Prior to founding Fairchain she worked in engineering and product management roles at Google and Youtube Music.

HANNAH TRAORE
Hannah Traore opened her eponymous gallery in New York in January of 2022. Hannah Traore Gallery is a space committed to advocating for and celebrating artists who have been historically marginalized from the mainstream narrative. Troare also aims to broaden the notion of what is deemed appropriate for the gallery setting. relationships. Understanding that art is in constant dialogue with design, fashion, media and the ever-changing world around us,

HANNAH GOTTLIEB-GRAHAM
Hannah Gottlieb-Graham is the Founder and Director of ALMA Communications, a boutique, Brooklyn-based PR agency operating at the intersection of contemporary art, fashion, beauty and social justice. Prior to founding ALMA, Hannah held communications positions at The Aperture Foundation, Howard Greenberg Gallery, Luhring Augustine Gallery, Sutton, Nadine Johnson and Third Eye. She’s worked closely with renowned international artists, facilitated partnerships and events with leading brands and cultural institutions.

We asked three change makers operating in art about their first impressions of the art world, the impact of digitization and what’s next for the dynamic art industry.