Small Galleries, Big Shifts: Where Intimacy Meets Innovation in 2023

In the world of contemporary art, small galleries are quietly rewriting the rules. While larger institutions often dominate headlines, it’s the intimate spaces—those with just a handful of staff—that are seeing surprising resilience and adaptability. Nearly half of these galleries reported a boost in sales last year, with the 35–54 age group emerging as the top spenders—a notable shift from the older clientele favored by bigger venues. The digital realm has also become a lifeline: over half of online buyers were newcomers, and online marketplaces now drive much of the growth. When it comes to artist representation, small galleries keep things focused, typically adding just one or two new names each year. And despite the global boom in art fairs, most prefer to participate in only a few—or skip them altogether. In a fast-changing art world, small galleries prove that less can truly be more, thriving on connection and curation over scale. #ContemporaryArt #ArtGalleries #ArtMarket #Culture