Versus: Raffaella Cortese and Chiara Canali Debate Affordable vs High-End Art

In the latest Versus column on Artribune, gallerist Raffaella Cortese engages in a discussion with curator Chiara Canali regarding the art market's emphasis on accessibility compared to quality. Canali supports the idea of democratization, drawing on insights from Jeremy Rifkin, Arthur Danto, and relational aesthetics theorists Nicolas Bourriaud and Claire Bishop. She observes trends such as the rise of online sales and the emergence of affordable young artists. Cortese counters by highlighting the significance of education and taste across various generations and price ranges. The two examine the influence of critics and public preferences, with Canali referencing the achievements of Street Art and digital art, including Thomas Hirschhorn. Cortese points out established artists like Zoe Leonard and Miroslaw Balka, while Canali mentions up-and-coming tech artists and recommends satellite fairs like Arte Accessibile in Milan, emphasizing the crucial role of physical galleries.