Activists Versus Gatekeepers? Gallery Representation, Reputational Markers, and the Structure of Opportunities for Artists in the US Contemporary Artworld

This chapter debates the structure of opportunities available to contemporary artists by examining gender and ethnic diversity in three inter-connected arenas of the US artworld: representation by commercial galleries, the award of major art prizes, and participation in the Venice Art Biennale. The analysis draws on empirical data that the authors gathered about the range of artists on the rosters of US galleries that exhibited at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2021. This data is then compared with reputational markers of professional success in the arts, namely award of the Carnegie Prize and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal (2000 to 2022) and the nomination of artists and curators by the US for the Venice Art Biennale (2001 to 2022). This information is used to investigate art market practices and incentive structures that reinforce inequality and restrict artists’ possibilities of achieving success in commercial and institutional contexts.