ART SPACES GO CREATIVE

As costly fairs proliferate, galleries must design new ways of doing business:

In August 2015, Janine Foeller finally closed her gallery Wallspace, which she had started with Jane Hait 12 years before in New York.

''It was no longer sustainable,'' Ms. Foeller said in a very recent interview.

But she did not give up on the art world altogether.

Instead, in September Ms. Foeller opened the pop-up gallery and cafe Wifey in New York district of Park Slope with the artist and floral designer Simone Shubuck.

''The idea is to create a model that is more affordable and flexible and allows galleries to come and  occupy a space for a designated period of time,'' Ms. Foeller said.

''There has to be a new way forward,   and new models have to be explored and  investigated   because it's just not working.   We've seen too many of our colleagues having to close because of rent and other factors.''

Ms. Foeller is just one of several galleries who have been forced or opted out of their physical spaces by the economics of an art market that  favors large dealers who can afford costly art fairs-

Where many collectors find it more efficient to but these days   -and prime gallery real estate.

But rather than giving up, dealers are redefining what it means to be a gallerist  -in some cases joining forces to create cooperatives and in others becoming virtual with just an online presence.

''We're like a  Silicon Valley startup,'' said Adam Sheffer, the president of the Art Dealers Association of America, speaking of gallerists generally.

''We're going to try some things, and some thongs will work, but you can't adhere to the same principles of sitting in your gallery like a garage attendant waiting for people to buy art.''