In Chelsea, a hub for contemporary art in New York, Sofy Gallery is among the neighborhood’s newer arrivals. Founded this spring by Alfonso Masullo and Raffaele Tortorella, the 10th Avenue space focuses on painting and photography, with a program that places Italian artists in dialogue with an international roster.

Its fall program begins with The Weight of Normal Things (Oct. 1-24), curated by Luca Cantore D’Amore, which explores the emotional weight and poetry of the ordinary through works by Susan P. Martin, Patrick Earl Barnes and Mara Clemente, spanning painting, collage and photography.

“Our goal is to build a program made up of 70% Italian and 30% international artists,” explains Masullo.

With 20th-century Italian masters and Arte Povera firmly established in American museums and collections, he sees untapped potential in artists born in the 1980s and ’90s and plans to work with leading curators to broaden their visibility.

The timing works in favor of an independent gallery. As the traditional mega-gallery model evolves, New York is making room for smaller, more agile spaces. “The US accounts for 44% of the global art market. If you want international visibility, this is where you need to be. And Chelsea, with world-class galleries just blocks away, constantly raises the bar.”

Collectors are changing too. According to the latest Art Basel and UBS survey, nearly three-quarters of global collectors are Millennials or Gen Z, while 66% bought work by artists new to them, a sign of greater curiosity beyond established names. According to Masullo, they tend to arrive better informed, already familiar with an artist’s work and asking specific questions. “It is no longer a passive experience, but a conversation between equals.” Sofy’s answer is to emphasize authentic storytelling and transparent, accessible pricing, with works ranging from $2,000 to $12,000. A concept store and late hours aim to build community. The gallery’s fall program also includes Low Tide, a solo exhibition by Maria Domenica Rapicavoli, whose recent project MAXIPROCESSO drew on the archives of Giovanni Falcone.