artists dealers 2715842

A growing number of prominent art dealers across New York, London, Los Angeles, Brussels, and Reykjavik began their careers as artists, not salespeople. Figures like Jack Hanley, Sebastian Gladstone, Börkur Arnarson of i8 Gallery, and the team behind Galerie Sardine (Joe Bradley and Valentina Akerman) all transitioned from studio practice to gallery ownership. The article explores how their firsthand experience as artists shapes their approach to representing others, from patience with the creative process to building artist-centered business models.