The Artsy Gallery Insights 2021 Report unsurprisingly shows a significant move towards the digital Illustration: Katherine Hardy
How the art world mighty have fallen. Art fairs ranking as the third most successful way for galleries to sell art in 2019 has slipped to sixth position in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Artsy Gallery Insights 2021 Report. Social media has replaced fairs, becoming galleries’ third best sales channel, moving up from sixth place in 2019. “The ranking of top sales channels shuffled considerably this year, with online sales, social media, and gallery websites taking the place of art fairs and walk-ins,” the report says. However, the number one way to sell art remains outreach to existing clients, accounting for 28% of total annual gallery sales in 2020.