In 1967, two Cologne-based gallerists came up with the Cologne Art Market — a trade fair where German galleries could set up temporary gallery-style spaces for a few days to showcase their stock. The following year, three dealers in Basel copied the idea but opened up their event to international galleries.
Niru Ratnam
The rise of the art fair – and the death of the small gallery
In the age of the ubiquitous art fair, traditional private galleries are becoming an expensive loss-leader

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