An art gallery is a place where visual artists exhibit their work. It is a meeting point for the public, collectors, and other art enthusiasts. A gallery’s primary goal is to support, nurture, and promote its artists’ careers.
In addition to exhibiting works, galleries also take care of administrative and curatorial work. These responsibilities include creating and preparing exhibitions, advertising the gallery’s events and exhibitions, taking care of transportation, ensuring insurance coverage, managing the artists’ archives, and developing a marketing plan for the gallery and its artists.
When an artist decides to show their work in a gallery, they sign a consignment contract with the gallery and agree on a percentage of the proceeds if their work sells. This is known as the ‘percentage of profit’ or ‘commission’ and is usually 50-50.
Galleries often represent a particular genre or style of art, such as modernist paintings or sculpture, antiquities, or mixed media. The artworks on display may be displayed in a single location or rotated. Museums, on the other hand, tend to have a wide range of different styles and genres.
Many art galleries are organized by groups of artists or artists’ collectives. These co-operatives allow the artists to split the costs and responsibilities of running an art gallery. This allows them to maintain a lower cost and give the artists more control over the pricing, displays, and distribution of their work.
Some artists choose to open their own gallery and sell their art independently, without the aid of a middleman. However, this requires a considerable amount of work, up-front investment, and elbow grease.
In the long run, opening your own art gallery is a good business venture that can generate significant revenue and provide you with an excellent way to meet people who share your passion for art. The key is to start small and build up a following.
One of the best ways to get started is by attending as many exhibitions as you can and networking with other galleries. This will not only help you connect with the right people, but it will also provide valuable experience and feedback on your work.
Another great way to build up a network of potential buyers is to host regular art walk nights in your neighborhood, where you can showcase the art in your gallery and introduce people to your work. This will create a sense of community and will encourage the public to visit your gallery regularly.
To help attract new visitors, consider creating a compelling wall label for each of your artworks. This will help you get more attention and increase the chances of a buyer buying your art. Researchers have found that wall labels are more effective if they are no longer than 150 words, so make sure to keep your descriptions concise and engaging.
In addition to writing impactful wall labels, you should also consider creating a website for your gallery. It is important to provide a website that shows the artworks in their best light, and helps to connect you with potential collectors who are searching for the art you have for sale. This will allow you to sell more art and maximize your profits.