Episode 61 - Pace Gallery Reaction

 

The art world was caught off guard last Wednesday morning when The New York Times reported that Pace Gallery—one of the most influential and respected galleries in the world—plans to reduce its artist roster by approximately 50 artists and eliminate about 50 staff positions.

In the article, Marc Glimcher, Chief Executive Officer of Pace Gallery, offered a candid assessment of the current state of the art market, stating: “The whole art gallery system became too big, too commercial, too impersonal and too corporate. We all know it’s true. But you actually have to do something to adapt to it. You have to make some substantial changes.”

Those are striking words coming from the leader of a gallery that recently celebrated its 65th anniversary and represents some of the most important artists of the modern and contemporary eras, including Alexander Calder, Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin, David Hockney, and Julian Schnabel.

The announcement immediately sparked discussion throughout the art community. Curious about how gallery leaders in Miami view this significant development, I reached out to two highly respected gallerists whose perspectives help shape the city’s cultural landscape: Piero Atchugarry and Mindy Solomon.

Piero Atchugarry is the founder of Piero Atchugarry Gallery, a gallery recognized for its commitment to contemporary and modern art, with a particular focus on artists from Latin America and beyond. The gallery maintains locations in both Miami and Garzón, Uruguay.

Mindy Solomon is the founder of Mindy Solomon Gallery, a gallery known for championing emerging and mid-career artists working across painting, sculpture, photography, and video, while highlighting diverse and underrepresented voices in contemporary art.

Today, we hear their reactions to Pace Gallery’s announcement and what it may signal about the future of the art market. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/03/arts/design/pace-gallery-artist-cuts.html?smid=nytcore-ios-shareP