An art gallery is a building or room where works of art are displayed. It has been around for many centuries. In Western cultures, galleries were originally covered passages, but as soon as the 1590s, they began to be used as permanent places to display artwork. Today, galleries are an important part of the world’s cultural heritage.
An art gallery’s ambiance is very important, and dealers carefully consider how they want to portray their work. An imposing gallery will put a desk between you and the art and instruct staff to ignore you, while a welcoming gallery will keep the doors open and label works of art in a way that coordinates with their price list. Although many people are intimidated by art galleries, the best way to approach this intimidating experience is to remain calm and focused on the art you plan to purchase.
Art galleries are still an excellent place to see art, but the sales numbers have decreased in recent years. High costs of doing business, a Federal investigation into price-fixing, and encroaching auction houses have all hurt the industry. Nevertheless, galleries in New York are still an excellent place to look for works of art.
In addition to the exhibition schedule, an art gallery’s social media presence is equally important. This requires creativity, strategy, and organization to promote an artwork. An art gallery also presents artists’ works for inclusion in public collections, museums, and biennials. A gallery’s social media presence should be as polished as its art.
An art gallery can be owned or run by an individual or a group of artists. Most art galleries are not commercial; they are nonprofit organizations that receive funding from donations and grants. Therefore, commissions are often lower than they would be in the commercial world. Additionally, the non-profit nature allows it to choose its artists based on merit. In either case, an art gallery needs to carry business insurance to protect its property and finances.
Purchasing artworks from an art gallery is an excellent way to support the artist’s career. While prices may not always be listed on the walls, many galleries carry a catalogue of prices. You can ask the gallery owner for a copy of the price list. The owner will happily provide this information for you, and it’s completely free.
While art galleries are generally free to visit, some only operate by appointment. It is important to discuss the terms of collaboration with the gallery before signing any agreement. You should also ensure that any agreement is in writing in case of a disagreement. In some cases, an agreement will not be necessary, but in most cases, it’s beneficial to have a written record.
A number of art galleries in New York and London feature big-name artists. The Zwirner gallery, for instance, represents Luc Tuymans and Yayoi Kusama. This gallery has two locations in New York and one in London. It plans to open a fourth gallery in Hong Kong in early 2018. The company has a photography department, which was created in 2008 by Zwirner partner Julia Joern. It allows the gallery to be more flexible in photo shoots for upcoming shows, press coverage, artists’ books, and more.