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- The traditional dealer vs. "hotshot" “hotshot” contemporary dealer
- The importance of Branding
- The Duveens vs. Gagosian vs. PaceWildenstein--how they branded themselves in relation to their stock and were particular about what they carried
- Distinct identity- how to differentiate between other dealers
- Galleries strive to separate their goods from those of other dealers and brand them distinctively so they can charge a premium
- Even if they brand their gallery effectively, they face competition from other gallerists who can offer different, but still excellent works
- Dealer vs. Auction House
- Responsibility vs. no responsibility to artists
- Pricing
- Lure of auction house
- Conspicuous Consumption
- Dealers promote the act of "collecting" “collecting” as being peculiarly prestigious- make wealthy collectors believe that they are part of something inexplicably important
- Dealers play upon a natural human predilection for conspicuous consumption
- Using Thorstein Veblen, book on Conspicuous Consumption, I will show how dealers recognize an individuals strive for success relative to members of their social circle and how they capitalize on this
- Parties, Parties, Parties
- How dealers make the gallery integral to their clients social lives
- Joseph Duveen provided his clients with introductions to British nobility vs. Gagosian and PaceWildenstein host huge events
- Hobby of collecting art extends to the participation in the social-scene surrounding it
- To be listed amongst Gagosian's Gagosian’s a-list clients is something socially conscious collectors strive for
- Geographical Location
- Gagosian and PaceWildenstein have expanded globally to take advantage of new markets
- Gagosian operates several galleries worldwide
- Dealers attend major international art fairs, including Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach and have promoted their brand at these venues
- Influence upon market patterns and taste
- Dealers play an important role in the art market introducing trends and aesthetic predilections
- Dealers with an impressive brand and a stable group of artists can even become so predominant that they steer market trends
- How the Duveen's Duveen’s and Durand-Ruel's Ruel’s influenced taste vs. how contemporary dealers do
- Conclusion/Summary
- Dealers are market makers as they match artists with collectors. These dealers promote certain ideas about the art and even form a gallery brand in order to sell the art.
- The dealers are essential in the cycle for discovering and promoting artists and in so doing they influence popular culture.
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Veblen, Thorstein. The Theory of The Leisure Class. "Conspicious Consumption“Conspicious Consumption." ” New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Penguin, 1994. Print.
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