Can Contemporary Art Galleries Be Ranked? A Sociological Attempt from the Paris Case

Abstract

In order to bring more light on French contemporary art galleries, we decided not only to try and define their population but also to rank them. We thus address two key questions: What should be the criteria for the ranking of art galleries and what does it reveal about the structure of contemporary art galleries in France? The analysis shows a general link between a first set of factors related to the economic integration of the galleries and the degree of reputation of their artists, although some exceptions are met. It also unveils a strong hierarchy between contemporary art galleries in France with a very significant presence of galleries of foreign origin in the first ranks, as a direct consequence of the high degree of internationalisation of the art market.