Perrotin to Launch Secondary Market in Paris in Early 2021

Emmanuel Perrotin, owner of a gallery network with four spaces in Paris and outposts in Hong Kong, New York, Seoul, Tokyo, and Shanghai, announced the launch of the Perrotin Secondary Market in early 2021. The new venture will operate from a five-story residence on Avenue Matignon, near the Grand Palais and the Paris offices of Christie's and Sotheby's. Perrotin will be joined by Tom-David Bastok, founder of My Art Invest, a platform for fractional ownership of artworks, and Dylan Lessel, former director of Kamel Mennour gallery in Paris until 2018. The Secondary Market is positioned as an alternative to auction houses, offering tailored services. Perrotin stated, "The global situation seemed very much like an invitation to action. The worse the times, the more resilient and audacious one must be." This initiative follows other recent expansions by Perrotin, including a podcast series of talks from exhibitions since 2014. Other galleries have similarly diversified: David Zwirner launched the podcast "Dialogues" and an online sales platform in 2018, while Hauser & Wirth founded a quarterly magazine and a non-profit institute. The art market has been severely impacted by the global economic crisis and the cancellation of most fairs, biennials, and large events.