"Support Group" by Sarah Douglas for Art + Auction Magazine

Walking into his new, 2,000-square-foot space in New York's Chelsea district, you would think Fred Torres had opened a gallery. But you would be wrong. Fred Torres Collaborations, which the 35-year-old launched in november with an exhibition of loosely figurative paintings ans sculptures by Alessandro Twombly (son of Cy), is more of a management agency for artists than a traditional exhibition venue.

Although he sells art works, Torres says he isn't as possessive as a traditional dealer. He works with other galleries to offer what he calls "an all-encompassing support system" and "world-wide exposure" to a client list that includes, in addition to Twombly, whose work remains on display through this month, the photographers Luca Pizzaroni and David LaChapelle and the painter Chris McGraw.

Torres has managed LaChapelle for almost four years-at one point with his friend Nicholas Robinson, who now has an eponymous gallery-even though the artist is officially represented by Tony Shafrazi. Torres thinks this kind of collaboration may be a trend. "The whole idea of being territorial is so old school," he says. And working with other dealers may be advantageous in recession. "I feel like i have a support system and a network. There's safety in numbers." - Sarah Douglas