The Goodman Gallery
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
The Goodman Gallery firmographics
Firmographics- 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
The Goodman Gallery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Contemporary Art Gallery
- NAICS
- Art Dealers (45992), Museums (71211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)
Keywords
Where The Goodman Gallery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Johannesburg
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices5 records
Markets served
The Goodman Gallery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- 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.
- Secondary Market Sales: Resale of works by notable artists including William Kentridge, El Anatsui, and others through private sales with discretion and competitive terms.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Publications and Books |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Prints and Multiples |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Primary Market Artworks |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Goodman Gallery product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use The Goodman Gallery
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Goodman Gallery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Goodman Gallery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Galerie PodgornyflagshipSecond 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-RoccoreFrench 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 MobilierflagshipCollaboration 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 PlainscorePartnership 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 CollectioncorePartnership connecting commercial galleries with institutional curators through London Gallery Weekend. Renewed partnership as part of initiatives to unify London's gallery scene.
- Henry Moore FoundationcorePartnership connecting commercial galleries with institutional curators through London Gallery Weekend. Renewed partnership supporting art scene development.
- Tia Collection Commissioning FundminorPartnership connecting commercial galleries with institutional curators through London Gallery Weekend.
- Art BaselflagshipLongest 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 MOCAAcoreEngagement 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 CompanycoreSouth South platform brought together artists, curators, galleries and nonprofit organisations, including support for RAW Material Company in Dakar, founded by Koyo Kouoh.
- Venice BiennaleflagshipGoodman 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
The Goodman Gallery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
The Goodman Gallery social profiles
Digital presenceThe Goodman Gallery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Goodman Gallery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
The Goodman Gallery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Goodman Gallery M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Goodman Gallery
What does The Goodman Gallery do?
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.
Is The Goodman Gallery a public or private company?
The Goodman Gallery is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Goodman Gallery founded?
The Goodman Gallery was founded in 1966. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Goodman Gallery based?
The Goodman Gallery is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does The Goodman Gallery make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Primary Market Art Sales are the primary driver. The others are secondary Market Sales, advisory Services and shop and Editions.
Who are The Goodman Gallery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pace Gallery, Perrotin, Gagosian, Marian Goodman Gallery, David Zwirner, White Cube, Lehmann Maupin and Hauser & Wirth. Regional players are Stevenson and Everard Read.
Does The Goodman Gallery have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Goodman Gallery.
What industry is The Goodman Gallery in?
The Goodman Gallery's product category is Contemporary Art Gallery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAH, Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit). Its NAICS code is 45992.