A gallery is a place, either online or as an actual business, where art is displayed and offered for sale. Art galleries may specialize in specific topics or areas of art. In most cases, an art gallery is run by a professional art expert or curator. There are thousands of art galleries around the world and many more online.
Gallery art shows often provide the public with a chance to view and purchase new work by local artists, but they are also important venues for educating and informing the general public about various aspects of art history, theory, and practice. This is especially true of museums, where education and public outreach is a high priority.
It is also a good idea to attend gallery shows when you can, and even to write about your experiences. This helps to ensure that you understand the artwork you are seeing, and can make a meaningful comparison between different pieces of art. When writing about a gallery show, try to avoid using esoteric or poetic language, as this will alienate the general audience and could make the experience of viewing the art more difficult for the reader.
When submitting artwork to a gallery, it is helpful to make a clear connection with the person you are contacting. This can be done by referencing a time you have met or talked with the gallery, making a sincere compliment about their program or a recent exhibition (if applicable), and then clearly explaining why your work is a fit for their space. It is also a good idea to include a short artist biography that explains your background and career as an artist.
Artwork should be submitted to a gallery only after it has been reviewed and approved by the artist. It is best to contact the gallery if you have not heard back within two weeks, but be polite and refrain from being pushy. Most galleries will review submissions on a case-by-case basis and some take much longer than others to review the work.
Good interpretation matters because there’s such a huge range of artistic practices and concerns being presented in galleries, no matter how well educated you are or how much art you’ve seen. Wall panels, labels and information sheets give audiences instant access to this, enhancing their perception and enjoyment without obscuring or patronising them.