Artist management agencies surge as gallery model faces upheaval

Artist agents, a Renaissance-era role, are returning as the traditional gallery model struggles. Recent launches include Cristopher Canizares' Artist Legacy Bureau (ex-Hauser & Wirth), Dina Mostovaya's Sensity Studio in London, Julia Bassiri's Art+Mgmt in Miami, Anne Verhallen's KUNST Agency, and Spencer Young in New York. Jon Horrocks, ex-Stephen Friedman Gallery, is launching an agency focused on museum partnerships, working with Sarah Ball and Nick Goss. Agents operate without physical spaces, keeping overheads low. Horrocks uses sliding-scale fees (monthly retainers or commissions). Agencies aim to handle long-term career development, estate planning, and academic engagement, relieving pressure on galleries. The trend is fueled by rising disintermediated sales (from 10% in 2021 to 20% in 2025) and artists' interdisciplinary interests. Rachel Keller and Sarah Davis opened Davis Keller gallery in LA to support mid-tier artists. Precedents include UTA's fine art division (2016-2024) and Art Agency, Partners (co-founded 2014 by Allan Schwartzman, Amy Cappellazzo, Adam Chinn; acquired by Sotheby's for $85m in 2016). Schwartzman& now has artist advisory as one-third of its business, noting galleries became increasingly transactional post-Covid and baby boomer artists face end-of-life issues. The art market is described as a "game of musical chairs" with many chairs disappearing.