About this marketing idea,
I'd like to give a slightly different perspective.
A lot of people, generally who aren't directly involved or concern by the high-end art market, think that this is all about marketing, contacts, and very little about content.
Of course, there is a certain dosis of injured egos (jalousy). "I'm not there because I do not have the contacts but in fact I have the level and above"...bla bla bla...we've read that many times.
In my experience, the situation is not reflecting exactly this idea.
I have personal contacts and relations with some world level galleries owners, and none of those person would ever give me a chance. Why? Because my work to date is simply not good enough.
What does it mean "not good enough"?
People who actually do not know the backstage, tend to think that this is just a corrupted market, and there is of course that, but in fact it is more the exception than the rule.
Many great gallerists have had to work and sacrifice a lot of their life to reach this level. With or without relations. It doesn't come easily. All the people I know at the highest level didn't have any particular advantage over others, some even started with real disadvantages and zero background. It's a combination of their work, dedication, seriousness and keeping the direction while overcoming obstacles.
Rarely, world-wide recognition comes just because of marketing. Before you can reach people who actually know how to market your art, you'd have to go through a long and hard process where luck is generally not involved as many people tend or like to think. Most of the artist give up at one point or another in this adventure and generally feel frustration, misunderstanded etc...
It's easy to attack the high-end market when someone has not managed to be part of it, but in fact it is bloody difficult and chalenging in many aspects to succeed in it and reach the point where people want you, need you.
So, back to the "not good enough". Not good enough doen't mean that the imagery is bad.
Some years ago, a french gallerist who works a lot in Milan too came to visit me. He was very pleased with some of my work. Then he immediatly started to ask me: are you really compromised, constant with this line of work? I said no, knowing perfectly that it would close me the door, but it was the truth and I didn't want this door to be opened telling a lie, because then your reputation colapse. This world is a small one.
Also, I wasn't involved enough in this kind of imagery to really compromised myself with it.
The art scene doesn't look for people who are able to do brilliant imagery. There are zillions in the world. A lot worsed and a lot better than us.
And you do not get to interest the people who are able to make you grow ww just because you are able to do pleasant, esthetic, top images. This, is NOT enough.
That's generally truth in all that has to do with the high-end, whatever the activity is.