The Goodman Gallery

What The Goodman Gallery does

The Goodman Gallery is an international contemporary art gallery founded in Johannesburg in 1966 by Linda Givon and owned and led by Liza Essers since 2008. It is one of the oldest commercial galleries on the African continent and the longest-running African participant at Art Basel, with four decades of continuous fair presence. The gallery represents more than 40 artists and estates whose practices have shaped contemporary art history and operates from five physical locations: Cape Town, Johannesburg, London (opened 2019), New York (opened 2023), and a project space at Cheetah Plains in the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve (launched 2024).

The gallery's product platform combines a core exhibition and primary market sales operation with several complementary modules: an e-commerce shop for prints, multiples, books, and merchandise; Goodman Advisory, which provides bespoke collection services including research, sourcing, acquisition, collection management, conservation, loans, deaccessioning, and stewardship; a confidential Secondary Market service for resale transactions; Goodman Screenings, a monthly digital programme for artist films; and Goodman Gallery Editions, which produces artist books and collectable multiples. Curatorial initiatives — Working Title (2009), In Context (2010), and South South (2015) — function as long-running programming infrastructure that supports emerging artists and transnational exchange across the Global South.

The business is a hybrid sales-led and event-driven commercial gallery. Primary revenue is generated through primary market art sales, secondary market private sales (transaction-fee based), and professional services fees from Goodman Advisory, supplemented by unit-priced shop sales. Go-to-market combines direct collector relationships managed by location-based senior directors, art fair participation, exhibitions, and digital channels including the website, email newsletter, and social media on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Customer segments span high-net-worth individual collectors, corporate collections, and museums and cultural institutions, with named corporate clients including Barloworld and a New York wealth management firm.

Name

The Goodman Gallery

Legal name

Goodman Gallery

Website

https://goodman-gallery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Goodman Gallery is a Johannesburg-founded international contemporary art gallery operating galleries in Cape Town, Johannesburg, London, and New York, representing over 40 artists and estates and serving high-net-worth collectors, corporate collections, and cultural institutions via primary sales, advisory, and secondary market services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Art Gallery

NAICS

Art Dealers (45992), Museums (71211)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

Keywords

• Contemporary art gallery
• Art advisory services
• Primary market sales
• Secondary market sales
• Artist representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Primary Market Art Sales: Sale of artworks by represented artists at gallery exhibitions, art fairs, and private sales. Gallery represents more than 40 artists and estates.
2. Secondary Market Sales: Resale of works by notable artists including William Kentridge, El Anatsui, and others through private sales with discretion and competitive terms.
3. Advisory Services: Goodman Advisory provides bespoke services for collectors and institutions including research, sourcing, acquisition, governance, collection management, conservation, institutional partnerships, loans, deaccessioning, and stewardship.
4. Shop and Editions: Sale of prints, multiples, books, and merchandise featuring gallery artists. Prices range from $40 for publications to $6,000 for limited editions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Goodman Gallery is an international contemporary art gallery representing more than 40 artists and estates, operating physical exhibition spaces in Cape Town, Johannesburg, London, and New York. The gallery sells primary market artworks, conducts confidential secondary market private sales, provides bespoke advisory services through Goodman Advisory, and operates an e-commerce shop for prints, multiples, books and merchandise alongside digital curatorial and screening programmes.

Product overview

Goodman Gallery is a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on its core international contemporary art gallery operations with physical exhibition locations in Cape Town, Johannesburg, London, and New York. The gallery's product portfolio extends through its e-commerce platform (Goodman Online Shop) for art sales, prints, multiples, books and merchandise; Goodman Advisory offering bespoke collection advisory services; Secondary Market services for confidential secondary market transactions; Goodman Screenings for monthly streaming of artist films and documentaries; Goodman Gallery Editions for artist books and collectable multiples; and curatorial initiatives including Working Title (artist incubator), In Context, and South South (Global South exchange programme). Additional offerings include event space hire and the Cheetah Plains Art Space project in the South African bush. The gallery represents over forty artists and estates with practices shaping world art history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Goodman Advisory: A bespoke advisory service offering confidential secondary market services for collectors and institutions.
• Goodman Gallery Editions
• Goodman Screenings
• Goodman Gallery at Cheetah Plains

Products and services

• Goodman Gallery Primary Market Art Sales Sale of contemporary artworks by more than 40 represented artists and estates through physical gallery exhibitions at Cape Town, Johannesburg, London, and New York, plus art fair participation and private sales. Target buyers include high-net-worth individual collectors and corporate collections.
• Goodman Secondary Market Services

Quantifiable outcome

• R25 million raised for charities since 2003
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Galerie PodgornyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2026Second year residency at Galerie Podgorny in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, presenting dynamic evolving exhibition of leading artists from African continent, diaspora, and Global South. Situated opposite iconic La Colombe d'Or Hotel.
• Hôtel du Cap-Eden-RoccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026French debut of outdoor sculptures by William Kentridge and Yinka Shonibare set within landscaped gardens of Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes. Shonibare presents hand-painted bronze sculptures; Kentridge debuts Paper Procession in painted aluminium.
• Pierre Yovanovitch MobilierflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026Collaboration for curated presentation at Pierre Yovanovitch Mobilier in Paris featuring contemporary artists William Kentridge, El Anatsui, Ghada Amer, Kapwani Kiwanga and Pélagie Gbaguidi. Part of wider summer programme in France.
• Cheetah PlainscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership bringing contemporary art into the eco-reserve setting at Cheetah Plains in the Sabi Sands Nature Reserve. In 2024, launched pioneering art experience with curated art space integrated across three architecturally striking villas. Evolving exhibition programme highlights artists exploring environmental themes.
• Government Art CollectioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership connecting commercial galleries with institutional curators through London Gallery Weekend. Renewed partnership as part of initiatives to unify London's gallery scene.
• Henry Moore FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership connecting commercial galleries with institutional curators through London Gallery Weekend. Renewed partnership supporting art scene development.
• Tia Collection Commissioning FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership connecting commercial galleries with institutional curators through London Gallery Weekend.
• Art BaselflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLongest running African participant at Art Basel with four decades of presence at the fair. 2026 VIP preview day with strong sales across major galleries. New initiative of keeping selected major works unseen until opening credited with generating excitement.
• Zeitz MOCAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngagement with Koyo Kouoh developed over several years both prior to and following her appointment at Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) in Cape Town, taking shape through specific initiatives and projects.
• RAW Material CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth South platform brought together artists, curators, galleries and nonprofit organisations, including support for RAW Material Company in Dakar, founded by Koyo Kouoh.
• Venice BiennaleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodman Gallery supports significant group of artists participating in 'In Minor Keys' at 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia 2026, curated by Koyo Kouoh. Artists include Nolan Oswald Dennis, Tabita Rezaire, Alfredo Jaar, and G.A.S. Foundation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pace Gallery: Global contemporary and modern art gallery with locations in New York, London, Hong Kong, Geneva, Seoul, and Tokyo. Represents major living artists and estates and operates a similar primary sales + advisory + secondary market model.
• Perrotin: Global contemporary art gallery with locations in Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, and Los Angeles. Represents a roster of established and emerging artists and operates primary sales, secondary market, and curatorial programmes.
• Gagosian: The largest international contemporary art gallery with 19+ global locations, representing a blue-chip roster of established contemporary and modern artists. The benchmark for global scale in the gallery business against which Goodman's footprint is compared.
• Marian Goodman Gallery: Closest comparable — an international contemporary art gallery founded in 1977 with locations in New York, Paris, and London, representing a similar blue-chip roster of established contemporary artists with comparable primary/secondary and advisory services.
• David Zwirner: International contemporary art gallery with locations in New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles, representing an established artist roster and operating exhibition, secondary market, and online sales channels at the top end of the market.
• White Cube: Major international contemporary art gallery with locations in London, Hong Kong, Seoul, Paris, New York, and beyond. Operates primary sales, secondary market, advisory, and curatorial publishing with a comparable global footprint and brand model.
• Lehmann Maupin: International contemporary art gallery with locations in New York, London, Seoul, and Hong Kong. Represents established contemporary artists with a primary + secondary market model similar in scale and structure to Goodman.
• Hauser & Wirth: Major international contemporary art gallery with multiple global locations, deep artist estates roster, advisory services, hospitality partnerships (Hauser & Wirth Somerset, St. Moritz), and curatorial publishing — directly comparable business model.

Regional players

• Stevenson: South African contemporary art gallery with locations in Cape Town and Johannesburg, plus Amsterdam. Directly comparable as a contemporary African art gallery with similar primary/secondary model and overlapping artist ecosystems; smaller global footprint than Goodman.
• Everard Read: One of the oldest South African art galleries, founded in 1913, with locations in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and London. Comparable as a contemporary African gallery operating primary sales and exhibitions across similar markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@goodman_gallery
• Facebookfacebook.com/GoodmanGallery
• Instagraminstagram.com/goodman_gallery
• Xx.com/Goodman_Gallery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/goodman-gallery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Goodman Gallery